‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎286v] (571/949)

4
rejoiced at my visit, and he exerted himself to receive me with all the limited
resources of which his people and town were capable. My entry into Koweit
in a carriage with the Sheikh (the only vehicle in the place) surrounded by a
galloping and shouting cavalcade of Arab horsemen and camelmen, between
lines of thousands of the inhabitants, and groups of women uttering shrill
cries, was one of the most picturesque incidents of the tour.
12. In your letter of 6th November you expressed the opinion that it was
inevitable that the Sheikh should be anxious to receive from me assurances of
support in excess of those already given to him. I had myself entertained
some such apprehension. But here, as at Maskat, I found that the visit itself,
quite apart from any fresh promises or engagements, was regarded by the ruler
as finally binding him to our cause, and as setting the seal upon the protec
tion and overlordship of the British Power. I was accordingly relieved from
the position, anticipated by you as one of special difficulty, of either having to
listen to embarrassing questions or to give embarrassing answers. It is true
that in his private conversation with me the Sheikh after stating explicitly
that he had severed all connection with the Turks, and that he repudiated
relations with any other Power than the British, asked that he might receive
from us a title or decoration and an allowance. But these favours were evi
dently sought as ratification of a relationship regarded by the Sheikh as already
in existence rather than as the initial steps in a new and more defined regime:
and they were merely the corollary of his action at the official reception at •
the previous day, when, upon receiving a sword at my hands as his khilat or
gift, he asked for a belt with which to gird it on, as he had now become “ a
military officer of the British Empire.” I instructed Colonel Kemball to re
port to me upon the exact nature and application of the Sheikh’s requests:
but I expressly warned the latter that it might not be found possible to grant
them. . In accordance with a telegram received from you on the morning of
my arrival at Koweit, I further warned the Sheikh against entanglements in
the interior in which he could neither expect nor receive our support, and he
promised implicit compliance with my advice. This should be the more easy
if, as reported by him, the Wahabi candidate for the Chiefship of Nejd, Abdur
xtahmam-bin-Eeysal, who is his ally, has been generally successful, and has
vanquished his opponent Ibn Rashid.
13 . I may add that Sheikh Mubarak, though now an elderly man, is by
ar the most masculine and vigorous personality whom I encountered in the
• .He seemed to me to possess a very acute intelligence, and a character
w ich justified his general reputation for cunning, and explained the fratrici-
a steps by which he had attained to his present position. His protestations
o ova y and friendship were, however, in my opinion, sincere : and I further
eaine that he shows to the officers of all British ships, and to Eno-figh
rave ers arriving at Koweit, exceptional hospitality and consideration.
The * qa fi Stl ° n ° f tlle Railway has called special attention in
ecent years to the ports or harbours at the upper end of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. •
and I accordingly ultihsed my visit to Koweit to inspect these in company
Kadhama W '' ile V*? off Eowpit - " e “ado an examination of
to t ^ ie west of the town. Leaving the fleet, we then made a
ur of two days m the Lawrence, piloted by Commander Kemp in the
probable ‘mar t Lf ° f '; hioh T ^ explored Khor Abdulla S
p - maritime terminus of a railway from Baghdad) up to the Turkish
post recently planted at Urn Kasr. Passing to the Persian scores of the Gu f
eyon e estuary of the Shat-el-Arab, we then similarly explored Khor Musa*
wlirLghfso^ec^
interior of Persia to [he Sea The [ f Y ly pending from the
the subject of a separate despatch mvesttgations will form
was unabhTtoTamfthY ° f • 2nd L)ecembf ‘ r the squadron arrived at Bushire. I
j o. 118 .u, ox 10th December ; but m the course of the
Enclosure No. VI. two days which I spent at anchor off
British merchants and .the town, l reeieved a deputation of the
speech which is forwarded herewith. 68 ' t ^ ere ’ and re P lle< t them in the