'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1911-1914' [‎128r] (260/488)

FOR THE YEAR 1912.
117
Information was brought in March hj an Ajman Shaikh that the Mutas-
sarif of Hasa had visited the Kasr-as-Sabaih settlement some two months before
with a number of Turkish soldiers and that he had left a " Chaush " (sergeant)
with 4 soldiers in Kasr-as-Sabaih. At various times Shaikh Mubarak has
replied to the A1 bu Ainain's overtures for his protection that they must give
up coquetting with the Turks before he will assist them. They have now
definitely placed themselves under the Turkish flag and Mubarak consequently
has washed his hands of them.
In July the Shaikh contemplated sending his yacht to Bombay for over-
shaikh Mubarak's Affairs. haul. It appears ^ that though carefully
painted outside, it has never occurred
to any one that the yacht's bilges inside would require attention. Consequently
her bottom plates and frames are so badly corroded that the lightest blow from
a hammer makes a hole. The yacht however has not yet undergone any
of the necessary repairs.
It is satisfactory to record that Shaikh Salim, Shaikh Mubarak's second son,
has taken ^ up his residence in Kuwait. He formerly resided at Puntas and
only occasionally visited Kuwait, there being a long estrangement between him
and his father. The reconciliation was due to Shaikh Khazal's good offices.
A British Indian who has recently been installing electric lighting at
Maskat and Mohammerah named N. S. Bayankar after an inspection visitT to
the Shaikh's palace, on the|14th October, secured a contract at the end of Octo
ber ^ to light the Shaikh's palace with electricity. Shaikh Mubarak told the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. that the contract was for Rs. 7,000 to supply an oil-engine
dynamo and 400 lamps.
t Tlie Shaikh's position financially appears to have improved materially
during the last 2 or 3 years. He is showing a commendable public spirit in
taking up various useful projects for the benefit and improvement of his town
and people. A water-tank steamer of 300 tons capacity, costing about £7,000,
is shortly expected to arrive from England which the Shaikh has ordered for
+he purpose of bringing water from the Shatt-el-Arab. Realizing that even this
measure will not suffice to obviate periodical water-famines, he submitted his
request for Government help in furnishing the town with an adequate and
Complete water supply system, as noted elsewhere.
Shaikh Mubarak has been making further large purchases of date-gardens
on the Shatt-el-Arab. Details are not at present available but he must now
own a very considerable area of land on the right bank of the river. He still
has difficulty in getting the land registered in his own name and therefore satis
fies Turkish requirements by substituting the names of his women and others.
This method, though it may suffice for present needs, is not unlikely to lead to
considerable trouble on his death and in the subsequent division of his
property.
The Shaikh's relations with the British Government and their Political
Shaikh Mubarak's relations with the British Agent are as friendly and harmonious as
Government. could be desired. He has frequently, and
with friendly confidence, consulted the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. on various entirely unofficial matters connected with his own
and his people's affairs, as an instance of which may be cited his request for
the assistance of the Government of India in the matter of providing Kuwait
with a water supply system. Shaikh Mubarak seems now to have abandoned
entirely the suspicious and obstructive attitude he was formerly occasionally
inclined to adopt towards British interests, as for example in the case of the
British India Steam Navigation Company's steamers in 1908. His rule is
impartial and makes no distinction between Arabs and Christians, and such
claims and complaints as have been referred to him by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. have
generally been dealt with promptly and fairly.
In September Mr. C. P. Macpherson, a partner in Messrs. Gray Paul
& Co., visited Kuwait to arrange for the conversion of their branch agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,
hitherto carried on by a clerk, into an agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. under a European assistant,
liie Shaikh cordially agreed and Mr. D. Hart arrived at the end of the month