File 1855/1904 Pt 6 'Koweit:- Status of Koweitis in Persia.' [‎272v] (54/154)

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dnnMe the value of the rifles under protest and get his vessel released The
owner! under the advice of the Consul, adopted the suggested course and paid
Sheikh Mubarak on hearing of the proceedings of the Muzaffer made a
^nmnlaint to the Resident through 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. , Koweit, and the matter
iT before the Government of India, who are in communication with His
Maiestv’s Legation, Tehran. The Wali of Bussorah has protested to the Persian
Government against Persian gunboats stopping and searching vessels m the
Shatt-el-Arab proceeding to Bussorah.
The Government of India decided {vide telegram No. 83-C., dated 28th
November 1904) to represent case to the Persian Government on the grounds
that the arms were evidently for the defence of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. .
Still pending.
CASE (/).
Seizure of a Koweit dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , NaJchoda Ghanum, hy the S.S- “ Muzaffer in the Shatt-el-Arab,
for having 28 rifles on board. Subsequent confiscation of dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and imprisonment of
liaTchoda and confiscation of innocent goods.
September 1904.
About the middle of September 1904 the Persian Customs steamer
Muzaffer while searching sailing vessels for arms near the mouth of the Shatt-
el-Arab came across a Koweit boat commanded by Nakhoda Ghanum and
seized it for having 28 rifles concealed on hoard.
She was brought up to Mohammerah, where the Director of Customs
offered to release her on receiving a fine of Krans 18,000 which he said could ba
paid under protest. As the fine demanded was more than the value of the boat,
which was, moreover, mortgaged, the owner could not accept the terms.
The Director-General of Customs, Arabistan, then wired to the Director-
General of Customs, Bushire, who went up to Mohammerah in the Persian
gunboat Fersepolls and brought the Koweit boat in tow to Bushire, the
Muzaffer following.
At Bushire Nakhoda Ghanum was at first placed under ordinary detention,
but later on consigned to a room in the Government House set apart for
prisoners. ^ He was then approached by a Customs representative with a sugges
tion that if he signed a paper making over his boat to the Customs, he would
be released. Before complying with the suggestion, he communicated with 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. through his head priest and was advised not to do so pending
receipt of a reply to a reference which was being made to the Government of
India vide Captain Trevor’s telegram dated 11th November 1904.
Meanwhile, on the 12th November, orders were received by the local
Customs authorities to definitely confiscate the boat, together with all her cargo
and confine the Nakhoda pending payment of the fine.
The dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. was put up to auction on 26th November, but no buyer came
forward and she still remains unsold. The Nakhoda was released as nothing
moie could be got out of him and returned to Koweit on the 7th December.
x our ounaies canvas and some skins belonging to Bahrein and Koweit
su jec s which were shipped quite innocently in this boat for Bussorah were
S °^ ^ 0r k ene fi4 of the Persian Government, the endeavours
o is esidency to get the Director-General of Customs to release them
The case was reported to the Government of India in this
office letter No. 397, dated 20th November 1904.
'l&h
' \
Alleged confiscation of goods belonging to
CASE {g).
a Koweit subject, Yusuf-eURaris, found in Persian
dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. .
AUGUST iyu4.
YusuDeftt^? ^ ief Koweit sent to the Resident a complaint from
one of his subjects, to the effect that the Persian Customs