File 1749/1921 ‘Persian Gulf:- Residency news summaries 1921-25’ [‎227r] (468/494)

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ARABIA.
Muscat.
’ The Muscat Levy Corps under the command of Captain E. D. McCarthy arrived
on the 19th by S. S. Chakdara and is cantoned at Watayah about 4 miles from
Muttrah. * (
Mr. Mahomed Khan, Treasury Officer in the Muscat Government, left for India
on the 18th on leave preparatory to reverting to the Government of India.
Two Egyptians recently in the employ of the Mesopotamian Administration
have arrived for service under the Muscat Government. Two Arab clerks from
Zanzibar have also arrived for employment in the Customs.
There has been a large influx of Baluchis from Mekran, the number that have
arrived in Muscat or Muttrah or the Batinah coast being estimated at over a thousand.
The lack of rain and consequent famine in Mekran is said to have caused this, though
a story is also current that the oppression and misgovernment of the Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. is the
chief cause. These Baluchis promise to become a serious problem as trade is
generally slack and they cannot find employment and are starving. At the same
time it is impossible to control them and it is probable that many will be enticed to
the Batinah towns and sold as slaves possibly willingly to get food. The Consul
of Ministers have been warned but practically nothing can be done except to warn
the nakhudas of native sailing boats.
The Imam and Shaikh Isa recently summoned the A1 Wahaiba chiefs to Nizwa
over the question of the murder of the late Imam. During the chaos following
the murder this man escaped to Dhahirah and Biraimi. The Imam has been unable
to effect his capture, and the Shaikhs of the A1 Wahaibah have been ordered to
produce him or fourteen of them will be imprisoned. The case is an exceedingly
interesting one. The murderer is outside the Imam’s jurisdiction and it is difficult
to see how he can be arrested, the A1 Wahaiba maintain that if the Imam cannot
capture him they are not responsible while public opinion naturally regards the
failure of the present Imam to arrest the murderer as a slur on his Government.
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. left in H. M. S. Crocus on the 28th on a tour of the Batinah
coast after which he hopes to proceed via Barkah to Wadis, Maaw^al and Semail
returning to Muscat by land in about a fortnight.
Bahrain. •
No nev's of importance.
KUV'AIT.
A Council of Advisers, consisting of 12 members, has been elected by the
towns-people, with Hamad-as-Saqar as president. It has, however, no fixed times
fcr meeting, the intention being that it only assembles vdien the Shaikh wishes
to discuss any matter with them, or vffien the towns-people wish to lay any matter
before him.
The Shaikh of Kuwait has established a lantern; giving a powerful white light
on the roof of his house at the north-east of the town, shown on the map as “Qasar
ash-Shaikh Jabir ” situated at approximately 48° East longitude by 29°23' North
latitude. This light which was ordered by the late Shaikh Salim, should prove of
great assistance to water boats and other craft making Kuwait during the night.
K. B. Mullah Abdullah, a British Government pensioner, formerly Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. in
this office, has been appointed to work with the Director of Customs, Kuwait, with
effect from April 11th, 1921.
There have been between 00 and 100 cases of small-pox in the town.
Shaikh Ahmed has received two letters from Bin Sa’ud, dated the 10th and 14th
April, respectively, describing operations against the Shammar. Three columns