File 1855/1904 Pt 10 'Koweit:- Relations with Turkey. Sheikh's properties at Fao and Fadaghia' [‎161v] (322/398)

in Basra (apparently Turkish vexations and misrule). And in spite of all this I
am at your orders, if you order me to be patient under the injury to my property
and the objections urged by the Arab princes against me, then 1 , according to my
custom, will rest patient under orders, but 1 say—“ This is against your welf known
and proved pity and your protection to every one who flees for shelter to your
shadow. Now I arid my name and my property are under your protection and
under your orders.^ Then it was incumbent on me to present the circumstances
Your Consul who is in Basra heard from the Wali that this land which Mubarak
has enclosed came out of the river. Then what comes out of the river there is in it
to the Government a right. Now their fort has been built 22 years from its com
mencement, and the mud which they have used to embank is from this place and
also this embankment which I enclosed for the protection of my property is
fourteen years old, and yearly I repair it and others not less than three or four
times. And their officials were looking on at it and did not molest me. Then
if it is a fact that there is in my possession land coming out from the river it is
necessary that they should deal with me according to the rules and precedents
as they do with others, according to the agreements of the assembly of the Idara
who will make me owner of the land in the change of records. The ownership
in the change of records is to the owner of the lands whether myself or another.
Then I demand right like all the Basra proprietors, that they should deal
with me, by sending persons of Basra, as I have mentioned in my petition above
who know about properties and their present day rules, and that they should see
this land which they are quarrelling with me about, and I will abide by whatever
these people may say, after they see it. And I also will make present with them
whomsoever you may appoint, the Consul at Basra or another that he may be
present. 1 hen that is what is incumbent upon you that you should watch over my
rights. Otherwise, if I have no right, at that time, 1 will be content. Also the
princes who are now objecting against me, when they have seen assistance from
you, in the protection of my rights they also will be content and will not object
against me. And this contradiction is only from the Wali of Basra, and yourGov-
( r iment has ordered that they sent the doctor especially on account of quarantine,
and what we know is that the doctor was sent by the Government out of pity for
askedTnr 0 ^ 0 ^^ s,ck ° f the Pf>ple. _ This is according to our request when we
asked for the doctor. Then,_ when it is incumbent on us to establish an officer of
quarantine, we will appoint him from one of our followers, and he will refer to the
you remain, etc,, W e a tc. W 1 ^ necessar y- We ho P e for y our assistance and may
14th Jamadi-al-Awwal 1326 H. = 14th June 1908.
Seal of Sheikh Mubarak.
west The ° f u Ur pr0perty ln Fa ° : west ’ the Khor Abdulla; north-
IJornNasir pTshr dm | ketween ° ur P r operty and Ma'aamir, the property inherited
is Tvffient S th m n T'’ th c e Sh ^t-al-Arab, and south, the sea, as
Imnerial Fno-r h r 6 ° CIa .deed, confirmed before the Consul of the Precious
Xaldfhe Goyornment in Basra, (Monahan?) under date 14th Tamaz
Y 9 ou 4 w J 1 P I ° f that d f d we have gi ven to your Presence before this,
over my property^ ^ COntents thereof. Then how do they quarrel with me
True translation,
S. G. KNOX, Major,
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.