'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1911-1914' [‎200v] (405/488)

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PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ADMINISTRATION REPORT
concerned, for no further cases of attempts to smuggle arms have been reported
during the year under review.
In January a complaint was made to Shaikh Mubarak by a Nakhuda of a
boat belonging to the Marafi house that she was stopped by a British man-of-
war near Charak, though loaded with dates and bound from the Shatt-el-Arab
to Oman The case was enquired into and, as the complaint appeared to have
been grossly exaggerated, the facts were explained to the Shaikh and the matter
dropped.
In April 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. heard in the desert that a large proportion of
the arms seized at Shargah in September 1912 by the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent belonged
really to Abdul Aziz k< Bin Saud " and certain news of the fate of the Arabs
captured with them only reached Nejd about the end of February 1913. Bin
Saud discussed the incident with 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. who submitted his repre
sentations on the subject to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. . In view of the political
changes caused by Bin Saud's ejectment of the Turkish troops from the Hasa
province it was decided to be inopportune to move in the matter.
Head Constable Mir Aslam arrived from Bushire on the 25th July in
charge of Mahdu, a notorious Kuwaiti arms smuggler, who had been deported
from Maskat by orders of His Highness the Sultan. The prisoner was handed
over to the Shaikh who, after subjecting him to a severe flogging, sentenced him
to a fine of Bl,500 with 3 months' imprisonment in double irons.
Durino* 1913 only one application was received from a local slave for the
manumission of his wife, daughter and
slave Trade. himself. The case was represented to the
"Ruler of Kuwait who, after enquiry, took the whole family into his own service,
the negro to work in the Customs and his wife in the harum. He also undertook
that, should the negro at any time desire to leave his service, he would be given
his freedom forthwith.
Work on the Kuwait pearling fleet was commenced in April but, owing
to the large stocks of last season's pearls
Pearl Fisheries. gtill lying unrealized in Bombay, money
for advances was scarce and these were, this ssason, limited to R70 and E50 to
each diver and puller. The whole fleet left for the banks in the first fortnight
of May and returned in the first week of August for the Ramzan Id. It
again left for the banks in the first week of September and returned in the
second week of October. The season was reported to be a poor one in the take
of pearls and a bad one for prices and consequently where divers received
advances of R700 after last year's season they were lucky to get R200 this
year. One result has been that the Nejdi diving fraternity is said to be con
templating giving up diving and joining Bin Saud in his raiding expeditions
against the tribes as likely to be more profitable.
The 4 pirates referred to in last year's report were brought to Kuwait
in H. M. S. u Philomel" on the 11th
IVacie8 ' January. The murderers were handed
over to Shaikh Mubarak for safe custody and 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. held an
enquiry in the matter. The crime being proved fhe suggested that sanction
might be accorded to their execution by rifle shot. On the receipt of the
orders of Government the Shaikh was informed of their acquiescence but, as
the murderers were the subjects of the Shaikh of Mohammerah, Shaikh
Mubarak decided with his consent to imprison them for life. One of the
pirates named Kadhair Bin Marzuq died in prison on the 20th March, and
two others later in the year.
Another piracy was committed this year by the Somali crew of a Kuwait
Towash's ballam " while she was on her way back to Kuwait from Bahrain^
The Towash and owner of the "ballam,'' Saif bin Zaid with his cousin^ Yusut
bin Husain bin Ali, and a Baghdadi cook were returning to Kuwait after
selling his pearls in Bahrain. On the night of the 22nd July when east ot
Kasr-as-Subaih one of the four Somalis shot and wounded Saif. His cousin,
Yusuf bin Husain bin 'Ali, startled from his sleep, made an effort to grapple
with the assailant but, in the scuffle which ensued, he and Saif bin
were thrown overboard. The " ballam " then altered her course for the Pirate