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'Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part I. Historical and Political Materials. Précis of Koweit Affairs, 1896-1904' [‎7v] (14/128)

The record is made up of 1 volume (64 folios). It was created in 1904. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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,l 128 The family of tlie present Sheikh have ruled at Kowelt some five generations, or
about 250 years ; for, as these men live to the good a^e of IfO years their
course, nearly double ours, or about 50 years each. Originally the Sh e lkh 8 P^g^itors dwelt
in a small fort, called Mumgussur, situated at the head of the Khore Abdullah near Bunder
Zobair; they we the pirares of the north of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and ower channels of the
Shat-el-Arab ; but about 250 years a^ro the Busrah authorities attacked aild ex P e11 ^, J *
The original Sheikh then came down the Bubiyan creek with his followers, and debouched n
the bavt at present known as that of Koweit or Grane. Crossing the bay he settled on its
southern shore and there erected a Fort or Khote ; hence the name Khote, or Koweit. Ihe
term Grane is rather applied to the shore line'of the entire bay, from its resemblance to the
curve formed by two horns, Keor or Ghern, meaning horn. The settlement was subsequently
increased by the son of the founder, who erected the longer portion of the present walls which,
however, have since been again extended along the shore line as the increase ot population
from time to time demanded.
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133. No doubt, much of the prosperity of Koweit may he due to position and to the
comparatively healthy climate : it was in ancient days the point where the sea trade took t
caravans or river carriage ; it still maintains its natural advantages, and, a mug wou
not recommend the artificial forcing of trade from its present course, I will dill keep an eye o*
Koweit for future purposes. It is, in my opinion, by no means impossible that Koweit, unde
the effective development of the Gulf trade, would become the terminus for our sea going
steamers, a Coal Station, and a Telegraph Station. The nx're you analyse the the
more will you be nrobably struck by the fact that the trade of the East and West has a,
marled tendency to resume its old lines under improved means of transit. Kow^it appears to
me a preferable port to Basrah for the samp reasons that Karachi is preferable to latta.
The climate of Busrah is fatal, that of Koweit comparatively good. The water of Koweit, it
is true, is brackish, yet fever is unknown. Dysentery and ophthalmia are rare ; and when
men commence begetting new families at 80 and die at 120, the climate cannot be consideied
as prematurely exhausting.
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*
*
Colonel Pdly't re- .
port, 19i3,
f
135. Koweit has a fine broad channel of creek water running from its bay up to within
twelve miles of the Busrah point of the river. I landed close alongside the Zoheir Bunder,
in four fathoms, and this was the least water I found in a midchannel of an average width
of one mile from the Koweit and of the creek up to its head, within sight of the date trees
on the Shat-el-Arab near Busrah. The catting of ^a broad canal across these twelve miles o£
flat soil would be a work of little cost and labour
********
141. The Sheikh said that bis family had always been tributary to Turkey; but I learned
from another source that, during some years, they had hoisted their own flag; they found,
however, that the customs levied on their exports to Bombay were more inconvenient when
levied against an unrecognised flag than when levied against a lurkish cratt. Koweit
shrinking from this foreign pressure, turned to her Sultan and suddenly changed color, iruly,
trade is sensitive as woman's modesty.
142. Be the suzerainty of the sublime Porte, however, of old or recent date, it is merely
nominal; the 4.rabs acknowledge the Turks, as we do the 39 Articles, which all accept and
none remember.
6. In his published report No. 57, dated 15tb May ISfiG, relating to bis
journey to Eiadb, Colonel Pelly wrote as follows about Koweit
" 18. It may not be uninteresting in this place to submit a few remarks on the bay of
Koweit—the sacred bay of the ancients, on whose shores stood Giranhensis. The word firane
is said to be derived from Genern, a horn, which the bay is said to resemble in shape. The
present Koweit, from Koot, a fort, may be about a hundred years old. Originally the Sheikhs
of Koweit occupied a fort called Mongassar, on the Zobair C reek a little to the northward,
they were the pirates at the entrance of the Shat-el-Arab ; but. being attacked by the Turks
they sailed south, and pitching at their present position, fortified it on the island side against
the attacks of the Bedouins. The tract around for a radius of about 8 or 10 miles is con
sidered to belong to ihem ? but it is, with the exception of two or three forts and their sur
rounding irrigation, entirely unproductive ; the water of Koweit itself is brackish, Neverthe
less, Koweit is one of the most thriving ports in the Persian Guif. Its craft are large and
numerous, trading with India and the Arabian Coasts. Its sailors are reputed the best in
these regions. Its trade is considerable ; importing rice from Shushter, Busrah, and the
Malabar Coast; corn from the Persian Coast, dates from Busrah ; and timber for ship build
ing from the west Coast tf India. On the land side it barters with the Bedouins who during
the winter and spring, bring down "rowghan." wool, and horses ; exchanging these for coffee,
rice and other necessaries. The Bedouins have free access to the town on condition
only of leaving their arms at the gate, where the Chief Sheikh and the Kadhees sit daily to
hear the news, superintend trade, and adminster justice. A large dinner is prepared daily in
an allotted hall for the entertainment of strangers. The currency at Koweit is in Maria
Theresa dollars, Persian krans, and Turkish copper coin. English sovereisrns are occasionally
to be found. Bills can be obtained on Busrah, Bushire, Bombay, and the "Wahabi capital

About this item

Content

The volume, stamped ‘Secret’ on the front cover and frontispiece, is part 1 (historical and political materials) of a précis of Kuwait (spelt Koweit throughout) affairs for the years 1896-1904. It was prepared by Jerome Antony Saldanha of the Bombay Provincial Civil Service, and published in 1904 by the Government of India Foreign Department, Simla, India.

The volume includes a preface (folio 4), list of contents (folio 5) and list of appendices (folio 6). The sections listed in the contents run as follows:

  • I: Brief History of Koweit from circa 1716 to 1896 A.D.;
  • II: Murder of Mahomed bin Subah [Muḥammad bin Ṣabāḥ] and his brother Jarrah [Jarrāḥ bin Ṣabāḥ] by Mubarak [Mubārak] and Mubarak’s succession, 1896;
  • III: (1) Proposed Turkish Quarantine at Koweit, (2) views of the Government of India and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ;
  • IV: Haripasa Piracy case. Warning to Sheikh of Koweit. Question of Protectorate over Koweit raised - 1895-1896;
  • V: Threatened attack of Sheikhs Jasim bin Thani [Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī] and Yusuf bin Ibrahim [Yūsuf bin Ibrāhīm] on Koweit. Question of Protectorate over Koweit discussed 1897-98;
  • VI: (1) Movements of Turkish troops towards Koweit, (2) Russian intrigues, (3) Question of Protectorate over Koweit further discussed;
  • VII: Proposed British Protectorate over Koweit. Agreement with the Sheikh of Koweit, December 1898 - May 1899;
  • VIII: Porte's complaints against British proceedings at Koweit as infrigement of quarantine regulations, May 1899;
  • IX: (1) Threatened attack on Koweit by the Turks, (2) Defence of Koweit, February - March 1899;
  • X: (1) Question of status of the Sheikh of Koweit, (2) Turkish activity in the neighbourhood, (3) Imposition of customs duty by Sheikh, March - June 1899;
  • XI: Turkish attempts to exercise soverign rights on Koweit, by appointing harbour master and opening a custom house. A forward Turkish policy advocated. The British Government's protest. July - September 1899;
  • XII: Sheikh Mubarak's diffidence in the British and desire of Persian protection. September - October 1899;
  • XIII: Appointment of Muhsin [Muḥsin] Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. as Vasli of Basrah. Change of policy inaugurated. Turkish Decoration for Sheikh Mubarak 1899;
  • XIV: Visit of the German Railway Commission to Koweit and their scheme to make Katham their Railway's Terminus, January 1900;
  • XV: Proposal to make Koweit a Port of call for Mail steamers July 1900 - June 1901;
  • XVI: Threatened hostilities between the Sheikh of Koweit and Amir of Nejd [Najd];
  • XVII: Renewal of hostilities between the Sheikh of Koweit and the Amir of Nejd , December 1900 - May 1901;
  • XVIII: (1) Ibn Rashid [Ibn Rasīd] seeks British protection, (2) Sheikh Mubarak asks for assumption of permanent British protectorate over Koweit, May - June 1901;
  • XIX: (1) Threatened attack on Koweit by Amir of Nejd and the Turks, (2) Measures for defence of Koweit, (3) Attempt to settle difference between the Sheikh and Amir amicably, July - October 1901;
  • XX: Question of defence of Koweit by sea and land, 1899-1901;
  • XXI: Question of discontinuance of the use of the Turkish flag at Koweit, August - September 1901;
  • XXII: Attempt to take the Sheikh of Koweit to Constantinople, November and December 1901;
  • XXIII: Alarm at Koweit and Landing of British Guns, December 1901 - January 1902;
  • XXIV: Prohibition of exports to Koweit from Turkish territory and movements of the Amir of Nejd, December 1901 - January 1902;
  • XXV: Dispute about the Fao [al-Fāw] Estates, December 1901 - January 1902;
  • XXVI: Occupation of Um Kasr [Umm Qaṣr], Bubyan [Būbīyān] Island and Subbiyah [al-Ṣubīyah] by the Turks, January - March 1902;
  • XXVII: Complaints against the proceedings of the British Officer and the Sheikh of Koweit, March 1902;
  • XXVIII: Sheikh Mubarak's offers of reconciliation with the Porte, March 1902;
  • XXIX: Arrest of agent of Sheikh Mubarak at Basrah and his imprisonment, May - December 1902;
  • XXX: Further movements of Ibn Rashid (2) Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal bin Sa‘ūd] in the field again, and captures Riadh [Riyadh], January, November 1902;
  • XXXI: (1) Fear of Renewal of hostilities between Ibn Rashid and Sheikh Mubarak, (2) The Sheikh warned not to involved himself in difficulties with Nejd or the Turks, (3) Application of the Sheikh for guns, August - October 1902;
  • XXXII: Threatened attack on Koweit from Mubarak's nephews and Sheikh Yusuf-el-Ibrahim. Lapwing case. September 1902 - January 1903;
  • XXXIII: Ibn Rashid near Koweit and Sheikh Mubarak's movements, December 1902 - February 1903;
  • XXXIV: Fao Estates' dispute, February 1903-04;
  • XXXV: Importance of Khor Abdulla [Khawr ‘Abdullāh] as a future Railway terminus, etc. 1904;
  • XXXVI: Recent movements of Ibn Rashid, January 1903 - March 1904;
  • XXXVII: Montefik Arabs [al-Muntafiq] seek Russian protection, (2) Revolt of Sadun [Sa‘dūn] Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ;
  • XXXVIII: Advance of a loan made to Sheikh Mubarak, March - May 1904;
  • XXXIX: Opening of a British post office at Koweit, 1901-1904;
  • XL: Appointment of British Agent at Koweit. June 1899 - August 1903;
  • XLI: (1) Turkish aid to Ibn Rashid, (2) Proposed British protest, (3) Appointment of 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. at Koweit, April - October 1904.

The Appendices are as follows:

Extent and format
1 volume (64 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged divided into forty one (identified by Roman numerals), which are followed by ten appendices (lettered A to J). There are paragraph numbers that are continuous throughout the whole volume, beginning on 1 at the start of the first section, and ending on 351 in the final section. A contents page and list of appendices are at the front of the volume (folios 5-6).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part I. Historical and Political Materials. Précis of Koweit Affairs, 1896-1904' [‎7v] (14/128), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C239, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023515249.0x000010> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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