'Koweit: A Report' [‎12v] (29/140)

Mubarak installed Abdul Aziz bin Feysul as Amir of Nejd»
to which the latter has some hereditary right, being descended
from the Wahabi chiefs who ruled over Ceniral Arabia, with Nejd
as their head-quarters, until they were ousted by the uncle of the
present Ibn Rashid.
Mubarak, it seems, while on the march back to Koweit, his
troops short of ammunition after some months of campaigning in
the interior, was ambuscaded not far from Hayil and his force
was undoubtedly somew'hat severely handled. The accounts of
this reverse, however, appear to have been much exaggerated.
Mubarak himself arrived back at Koweit on March 31st, 1901.
The defeat was partly due to treachery; a tribe which formed
part of his force, going over to Ibn Rashid's side, during the
fight.
1 he young Wahabi, newly installed Amir, hearing of this
reverse fortified himself in his new capital, while Sheikh Sadun,
chief of the Muntafik tribe, raided in rapid succession several
large caravans of Ibn Rashid’s on the main routes between Hayil
and the Euphrates, in retaliation for the repulse of his friend
and ally, Mubarak.
During the remainder of the year, 1901, the following events
took place, which owing to their recent date, and varied char
acter, may perhaps be more properly considered as political,
rather than historical, and as such must form the subject matter
for a separate chapter.
POLITICAL.
In August 1901, a Turkish gunboat arrived in Koweit Bay ;
it does not appear very clearly with what precise object, but
her movements appeared suspicious, and it seemed evident, that
some action (it may have been merely the landing of stores with
perhaps a few men as guards) was contemplated by the Turkish
authorities which might have been referred to later, as constitut
ing protection and as being inconsistent with Mubarak's claim
of independence.
The British Government does not admit the claim of
the Turks to sovereignty over Koweit. Mubarak asserts
that no ruler of Koweit has ever shown fealty,* in any way to
the Sultan of Turkey. His dealings with Great Britain have
been direct, and those of an independent ruler. Ac*
cordingly, the commander of H.M.S. Perseus informed
the commander of the Turkish ship that he could not be
* Palgr a y e distinctly says that the Sheikh of Koweit, at the time he was
wnting (1863), had refused the demands of tribute and submission, made by the
Turkish authorities of Basrah and Baghdad “Thus escaping the decline and
dissolution almost inevitable for all seaports under Ottoman administration."