Publications, Newspaper Cuttings, Photographs and Correspondence about Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎274r] (548/879)

INDIA, FRIDAY, JA]
phemistic " leases, ” in return for assistance and
protection. When the German Reichstag discuss
ed the acquisition of Kiaochau two years ago, a
Pan-Germanic enthusiast declared that Germany
needed a coaling station on the way to China,
and should seek one in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . We
were moved at the time to ridicule the speaker
for his geographical obliquity, but it is now
reasonable to suppose that he voiced very
definite aspirations. A German railway to
Koweit will probably be the forerunner of
more permanent developments. A German
writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. who expounds the theory that Asia
Minor is the natural outlet for German coloni
sation, has said that “ a far-seeing policy will
take care that when the fruit is ripe it falls into
Germany’s lap.” Asia Minor would form rather
a large harvest, and Germany will have to wait
long before she ga hers where she has planted.
But Koweit is more easily negotiable, and the
prospect of its ultimate transference to Germany
by no means an idle vision. What is the policy
of Great Britain to be, now that the advent
of Germany into the Gulf has become assured ?
It is by no means certain, in the first place, that
the Sultan has any genuine right to grant
permission for the extension of the railway
survey to Koweit at all. His authority over
the Sheikh of Koweit has never been more
than nominal. Lord Curzon wrote in 1892 :—
" Koweit now nominally forms part of the
Indi: The Bank’s rate for Demand Loans on th.
revolsecurity of Government Paper is 7 per cent
enterper annum. The rates for other business are
narasubject to arrangement. "
culty
chart
fold Nemes.
for a "
Dutt
lot, INDIAN BANKS, I
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mustBank of Bengal.... ।
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BANK 3.
Last
Shares. Amount Paid-up. Half-
Yearly
Div’d. i
20,000
40,000
10,000
40,000
500
500
500
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500
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vilayet cf Bussorah, to which it pays tribute ;
is not greatly interfered with by the
but it
central power, who have never attempted to
place a garrison here. ” Down to the present
day, so far as we are aware, Turkish troops
have never dared to set foot in Koweit.
The garrison of Bussorah has been consider
ably increased during the last two years,
but no attempt has been made to make the
nominal suzerainty of the Sultan over Koweit
more definite. On the other hand, it is an un-
relations between the Sheikh of Koweit an ’
British Government have grown stronger than
at any previous time. We are inclined to think
that at a recent date they crystallised into a
substantial form, in pursuance of a policy
which certainly did not contemplate the possi
bility of a German railway with a terminus at
the port. Are we to believe that the Home
Government, which has always been cheerfully
indifferent to British interests in the Gulf, has
suddenly reversed all previous precedents and
decided to leave Koweit to its fate ? Such a
decision would be very much to be deplored.
The Sultan and the Home Government alike
appear to have conveniently forgotten that it
was entirely through British intervention that
Turkish dominion was established in Mesopo
tamia at all. If British arms and British gold
had not aided the then Sultan in exacting alle
giance from the Vali of Baghdad a hundred
years ago, the Crescent flag would never again
have been seen in this region. The historical
evidence upon the point is indisputable. Sir
Trevor Chichele Plowden, now Resident at
Hyderabad, stated the facts at considerable
length in an article printed in the Contemporary
Rnieiu so long ago as 1884. We may be told
that the part played by Great Britain in the
suppression of the local Arab and Kurdish
chieftains at the commencement of the century,
has very little to do with the question which has
now arisen. The argument may be conceded, so
far as Baghdad and Bussorah are concerned ;
but it is permissible to recall these forgotten
incidents in support of our contention that the
reality of Turkish control over Koweit is very
much open to question. We should like to
enquire, further, whether the Indian Govern
ment or the home authorities were prepared to
admit twelve months ago—or even six months
ago—that the nominal allegiance of the sheikh
of Koweit to the Sultan had any genuine
existence. Our own information is that the
Sultan’s claims to Koweit have been held in
scant respect for a long time by those responsible
for the direction of British policy in the Gulf.
Cash
Rate.
-
TS
1,260
1,225
1,150
90
DO
Os:
100,000
40,000
30,000
80,000
37,320 /
£
£3
£25
$125
$25
£6
£20
£12-10
$185
£124
><
£1-10-0
8 pr. ct.
79
£38
9-16
£80
300
BAILWAY
COMPANIES.
B. B. & o. i. R. Co,
New £12 shares ..
Ahmedabad Frantei
I Railway
Tapti Valley Rail
way Company . . . . :
4,000
26,000
£100
£10
600
500
all
all
500
500
uar
5 pr.ct.
do.
4 pr.ct.
4 pr.ot.
1,003
200
W0
PRESS COMPANIES.
Akbar
Akote G. and P. Cc..
T Albert Ginning Co...
Albert (Kurracuec).
tele Apollo
,
the Bhownugger O.Press
as € Bombay Cotton ....
Breul’s Cawnpore ,, i
Ger Breach City
Onto’.
after Kown
emissary
200 i
200
100
200
750 (
167 .
550
1,000
500
600
1,250
500
500 ,
1,100 I
3,400
1,000
250
125
200
200
1,250
500
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1,100
2,200
1,000
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55
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re-
ceived * peet y the Sheikh, 91
whose guest he remained for nearly a month. I
His mission was - carefully concealed at
the time, but light begins to dawn now. L s
The prospect of a German railway to an
Koweit has a very real importance for India. "
Although public attention has often been I
twenty Europeans could be found in the whole
of India who have ever visited this spot. This —
is to a gr a. extent due to the fact that
steamers do not make it a port of call, and
therefore a tedious voyage in some dirty native I o
craft is obligatory to the luckless mortal who ua
wishes to obtain information at first hand, ne
Situated about 50 miles from the mouth of the 9
Shatt-el-Arab, on the southern shore of a large s
bay, which is 22 miles long by about 11 in a
breadth, and which is approached by a broad It
channel suitable for the passage of large e
vessels, Koweit forms without doubt the finest 49
harbour in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . This harbour",
is protected on its only open side, the east-on
ward, by a large shoal which extends for somey
considerable distance, and which prevents any
heavy sea from tunning into the anchorage. "4
The greater proportion of the area of the
harbour would undoubtedly be available for the "a
anchorage of vessels of large size, and althoughiu
at present none but medium sized vessels could o
approach within three-quarters of a mile of ?
the shore, that could easily be remedied by"
- - - and docksi
dredging operations. Wharves
could be constructed also if it were necessary Ia
and it speaks volumes for the energy and *
loresight of the inhabitants of this place, when ‘
it is stated that they had already in their own T
rude manner built about twelve stone docks, or
inside which they shelter their craft duringor
the winter months. The whole of the country n
surrounding the town is level, and splendidly"
adapted for the building of large warehouses.]
One of the principal defects, but one which is
easily remedied in these days, is the scarcity of’d
water, and the extreme brackishness of the I 9
present supply. * I
The town is large and well built for an Arabi
place, the streets fairly wide and clear, and 1
all the houses built of stone covered with
plaster. The town extends for a distance of'
about one and a quarter miles along the
seashore, and is about half a mile in depth.
The bazaar is large, and the Bedouins constantly
come in from great distances to dispose of their
goo s in exchange for arms, cotton fabrics, &c.
At present only a nominal duty is imposed on
imports. Koweit is distant, roughly, from
Kurrachee 1,100 miles, and from Bombay 1,500,
and a direct traffic with those and other Indian
ports is carried on by dhoirs which are owned
2
(2*
’ INDIA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1900. .
phemistic “ leases, ” in return for assistance and
protection. When the German Reichstag discuss
ed the acquisition of Kiaochau two years ago, a
Pan-Germanic enthusiast declared that Germany
needed a coaling station on the way to China,
and should seek one in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . We
were moved at the time to ridicule the speaker
for his geographical obliquity, but it is now
reasonable to suppose that he voiced very
definite aspirations. A German railway to
Koweit will probably be the forerunner of
more permanent developments. A German
writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. who expounds the theory that Asia
Minor is the natural outlet for German coloni-
satioo, has said that “ a far-seeing policy will
take care that when the fruit is ripe it falls into
Germany’s lap.” Asia Minor would form rather
a large harvest, and Germany will have to wait
long before she ga hers where she has planted.
But Koweit is more easily negotiable, and the
prospect of its. ultimate transference to Germany
by no means an idle vision. What is the policy
of Great Britain to be, now that the advent
of Germany into the Gulf has become assured ?
It is by no means certain, in the first place, that
the Sultan has any genuine right to grant
I permission for the extension of the railway
I survey to Koweit at all. His authority over
the sheikh of Koweit has never been more
than nominal. Lord Curzon wrote in 1892
“ Koweit now nominally forms part of the
vilayet of Bussorah, to which it pays tribute ;
but it is not greatly interfered with by the
central power, who have never attempted to
place a garrison here. ” Down to the present
day, so far as we are aware, Turkish troops
have never dared to set foot in Koweit.
The garrison of Bussorah has been consider
ably increased during the last two years,
but no attempt has been made to make the
nominal suzerainty of the Sultan over Koweit
more definite. On the other hand, it is an un
doubted fact that within the same period the
relations between the Sheikh of Koweit and the
British Government have grown stronger than
at any previous time. We are inclined to think
that at a recent date they crystallised into a
substantial form, in pursuance of a policy
which certainly did not contemplate the possi
bility of a German railway with a terminus at
the port. Are we to believe that the Home
Government, which has always been cheerfully
indifferent to British interests in the Gulf, has
suddenly reversed all previous precedents and
decided to leave Koweit to its fate ? Such a
decision would be very much to be deplored.
The Sultan and the Home Government alike
appear to have conveniently forgotten that it
was entirely through British intervention that
Turkish dominion was established in Mesopo
tamia at all. If British arms and British gold
had not aided the then Sultan in exacting alle
giance from the Vali of Baghdad a hundred
years ago, the Crescent flag would never again
have been seen in this region. The historical
evidence upon the point is indisputable. Sir
Trevor Chichele Plowden, now Resident at
| Hyderabad, stated the facts at considerable
length in an article printed in the Contemporary
Review so long ago as 1884. We may be told
that the part played by Great Britain in the
suppression of the local Arab and Kurdish
chieftains at the commencement of the century,
has very little to do with the question which has
now arisen. The argument may be conceded, so
far as Baghdad and Bussorah are concerned ;
but it is permissible to recall these forgotten
incidents in support of our contention that the
reality of Turkish control over Koweit is very
much open to question. We should like to
enquire, further, whether the Indian Govern
ment or the home authorities were prepared to
admit twelve months ago—or even six months
ago—that the nominal allegiance of the Sheikh
of Koweit to the Sultan had any genuine
existence. Our own information is that the
Sultan’s claims to Koweit have been held in
scant respect for a long time by those responsible
■ for the direction of British policy in the Gulf.
Is the sacrifice of tangible British interests in
Koweit part of the price we have had
to pay for German friendship ? It looks very
much as though the projected extension of the
Baghdad Railway to Koweit is one more addi
tion to the long list of instances in which the
Asiatic interests of Great Britain have been
thrust aside in consequence of the imperious
claims of her African policy. One point we are
constrained to urge. The establishment of
German influence at Koweit will not stop short
at the construction of a railway. Not this year
perhaps nor next year, but at some future time
more substantial claims will follow in the track
of German locomotives. The old doctrine of the
inviolability of the Gulf is being broken. Great
Britain, which has sought no selfish advantage
on the shores of the Gulf, now sees the fruits of
a century's labours for the preservation of
peace in this inland sea, being garnered by
other nations, How long are we to wait for a
definite declaration of the policy which the
British Government proposes-to pursue in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in future ?
In our issue of yesterday atten-
Germany and tion was drawn to the import
ant questions raised by the
ncession granted by the Sultan to Germany
C° the construction of a railway to Baghdad
J a Bussorah. The impression had scarcely
seen published, when a cablegram—printed in
=other column—arrived, stating that the
a ilway survey had been completed to Bussorah,
Tea is about to be extended to Koweit. There
be no mistake about the real significance of
sa I message. It raises the fear that sooner or
later the finest harbour in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. will
pass into the keeping of Germany. China is not
the only moribund Power prepared to hand over
its undeveloped ports to other nations, upon eu-
..... — . Mr. Dutt devoted a consider-
able portion of his Congress
address to the very laudable object of showing
how the administration could be brought into
closer touch with the people of this country.
Unfortunately, Mr. Dutt, like many another
idealist, is also a little visionary. His purpose
is most admirable ; but when a dose of the
cold water of sober criticism is applied to his
very alluring and suggestive proposals, they
shrivel up into very poor things indeed. He
started, naturally, with the village as the basis
of Indian society, and with tremendous vigour
proceeded to draw a picture of the unfortunate
police-ridden ryots in much the same spirit as
Goldsmith sketched his own " sweet Auburn ”
in its decline—without the poet’s excuse for
exaggeration. We can cordially agree with
Mr. Dutt in regretting the excessive power
—often misused—of the police, and the
decline in the authority of the village
punchayets ; but he did not strengthen
his case by sacrificing accuracy to rhetorical
effect. When, however, Mr. Dutt turned
from philippics to outline -his proposals
for village unions, he shadowed forth a scheme
worthy of the National Liberal Federation. Each
sub-division is to be parcelled out into twenty or
thirty village unions, real centres of village
administration entrusted with the charge of
the village roads, the village tanks, the village
education, and the village drainage. As a
plank in the platform of those “ sixteen Indian
gentlemen ” sixteen English constituencies are
hungering to receive, we can suggest nothing
more effective ; but imagination boggles at the
picture of a group of Deccan ryots, at the close of
a day’s laborious toil,sitting in solemn conclave to
discuss such a subject as sanitation, for instance.
And what more appropriate body to have control
of hospitals than one whose members are firmly
convinced that such institutions are in
ventions of the saheb-loy for reducing the
surplus population ? If Mr. Dutt’s arguments
upon this subject merited serious consideration,
it might be worth while pointing out that he
would give to Indian village unions at a jump
far greater powers than are enjoyed by the
rural district councils slowly evolved in Eng
land. It is an open question now whether, in
carrying the principle of decentralisation into
the English parish, the Imperial Parliament have
not been striding too fast ahead. In a consider
able percentage of cases the latest local Govern
ment Act remains a dead-letter, and Lord Salis
bury was not far wrong when he said the rustics
wanted not parish councils but circuses. With
municipal self-government still on trial in
India, the time is far distant when such a
revolutionary scheme as Mr. Dutt’s can be
entertained. If mofussil municipalities find it
hard to form quorums, and can with diffi
culty be induced to spend money, these
characteristics would be exaggerated ten
fold in village councils. And to touch
for a moment upon a graver side, if, as Mr.
Dutt says, he has never found municipalities
obstructive, his experience as a District Officer
must be unique. Something might be done
upon the lines he suggests to stem the growing
volume of litigation by referring petty civil
and criminal cases to the village elders for
amicable settlement; but even in this direction
the way is not easy. The endeavour was made
early in the century by Munro in Madras and
Elphinstone in this Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. ; it failed,
because it was found that village courts could
not exist side by side with higher tribunals
empowered to adjudicate upon the same cases.
GERMANY AND KOWEIT.
THE FINEST HARBOUR IN THE
PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
♦
The announcement made by Reuter in our
telegraphic columns, that Germany will extend
the survey for the Baghdad-Bussorah Railway
as far as Koweit, is not altogether a surprise.
Germany has long been suspected of hankering
after Koweit. Not many months ago a German
of the Arab tribes : they are, however,
very ignorant, little being taught except
a knowledge of the Koran. There is no disting-
tion coinage, but the Maria Theresa dollar as
in other places on this coast, seems to be the
most favoured coin. Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and other Indian
coins are, however, accepted,and Turkish money
is frequently met with. Many of the men speak
Hindustani owing to their frequent trading
voyages to Indian ports, but no Indian subjects
are settled in Koweit, owing to a reluctance on
the part of the Shaikh to allow them to obtain a
foothold. There are also no political officers
stationed there, although a British Resident took 1
up his abode there in 1820 21, when,owing to the
insolence of the then Vali of Bussorah, he I
found it advisable to temporarily change his I
quarters. In conclusion, it may be said that )
the port, with its already well-established |
trade, both seaborne and into the interior, is j
easily capable of great and profitable development. 1
It merely needs a new and quicker means I
o f communication to open up a considerable .
field to the enterprise of our merchants. For it
must be borne in mind that Koweit is by far
the largest seaport on this part of the mainland,
and is already the seat of a large caravan trade
with the interior ; and although at present every
thing is carried in native bottoms, and in several
cases after transhipment from steamers in other
ports, yet if an occasional steamer ran direct she
would probably find that it would soon pay.
It evidently pays to run to smaller ports than
this in the Gulf or the steamers would not call
at them. Therefore it ought to pay to run to
a place like Koweit with a large trade ready
made. If a German railway is to be constructed
thither, its importance will at once be enor-
monslv e hanced.
emissary paid a visit to the port, and was re
ceived with elaborate respect by the Sheikh,
whose guest he remained for nearly a month.
His mission was carefully concealed at
the time, but light begins to dawn now.
The prospect of a German railway to
Koweit has a very real importance for India. i
Although public attention has often been
directed to Koweit as a possible terminus for
the Overland Railway to India, it is doubtful if
twenty Europeans could be found in the whole
of India who have ever visited this spot. This
is to a gr av extent due to the fact that
steamers do not make it a port of call, and
therefore a tedious voyage in some dirty native
craft is obligatory to the luckless mortal who
wishes to obtain information at first hand.
Situated about 50 miles from the mouth of the
Shatt-el-Arab, on the southern shore of a large
bay, which is 22 miles long by about 11 in
breadth, and which is approached by a broad
channel suitable for the passage of large
vessels, Koweit forms without doubt the finest
harbour in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . This harbour
is protected on its only open side, the east
ward, by a large shoal which extends for some
considerable distance, and which prevents any
heavy sea from running into the anchorage.
The greater proportion of the area of the
harbour would undoubtedly be available for the
anchorage of vessels of large size, and although
at present none but medium sized vessels could
approach within three-quarters of a mile of
the shore, that could easily be remedied by
dredging operations. Wharves and docks
could be constructed also if it were necessary,
and it speaks volumes for the energy and
foresight of the inhabitants of this place, when
it is stated that they had already in their own
rude manner built about twelve stone docks,
inside which they shelter their craft during
the winter months. The whole of the country
surrounding the town is level, and splendidly
adapted for the building of large warehouses.
One of the principal defects, but one which is
easily remedied in these days, is the scarcity of
water, and the extreme brackishness of the
present supply.
The town is large and well built for an Arab
place, the streets fairly wide and clear, and
all the houses built of stone covered with
plaster. The town extends for a distance of
about one and a quarter miles along the
seashore, and is about half a mile in depth.
The bazaar is large, and the Bedouins constantly
come in from great distances to dispose of their
goo s in exchange for arms, cotton fabrics, &c.
At present only a nominal duty is imposed on
imports. Koweit is distant, roughly, from
Kurrachee 1,100 miles, and from Bombay 1,500,
and a direct traffic with those and other Indian
ports is carried on by dhows which are owned
in the port. A large portion of the c nrying
trade of the Gulf is also in the hands of the
Arab merchants of this place, and amongst them
they are credited with owning 21 baghlas be
tween 150 and 300 tons burden, and 50 slightly
smaller ones which trade solely in the Gulf.
Besides these they are reported to send 350
boats to the pearl fishery, the value of the pearls
exported from this p’ace alone in any year
amounting to many lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . The prin
cipal exports are ghee; horses of the very best
breed, which at present are first sent to Busreh
in native craft and then transferred to the
British India steamers, and which are certainly
not improved by their journey from Koweit
in small native craft with little or no accom
modation for the conveyance of live stock ;
wool, which is brought in large quantities from
far inland by the Bedouins ; and a few dates.
Almost all the pearls obtained in the fishery
are exported to India. As an instance of the
“ push " of this tribe it may be interesting to
mention that they occasionally send a few of
the iarger of their dhows to prosecute the pearl
fishery on the coast of Socotra after the Gulf
.fishery has concluded.
The imports are much more important than
the exports, and consist of piece-goods, rice,
sugar, .timber, specie and cotton from India ;
coffee from the Red Sea ; tobacco, dried fruits
and arms from Persia ; grain and dates from
Bussorah ; cloth (native), dates and fish from
Bahrein. As the country round Koweit pro
duces very little, and as the population is
numerous and increasing, and the town itself
is the starting point of many cararans which
traverse the interior of the country in every
direction, it follows that a large trade is now
being done, and one that appears capable of
much extension. Probably a portion of the
trade which now passes through Bussorah would
be diverted to to this route if steamers called,
and as the people themselves appear to be fairly
a ell-to-do, the trade of the port should be
capable of much development in the future.
The population of the town cannot be far
short of 20,000 ; it was as a matter of fact put
down at that total some thirty years ago, but
was possibly over-estimated. There are about
5,000 men capable of bearing arms in the place,
and they are supposed to be supplied with
modern weapons, as it, is well known that large
number of Martinis have been imported of late
years.
The history of the town from its found
ation, about 200 years ago, is very interesting.
At the beginning of the 18th century, or to be
more accurate, in the year 1716, three branches
of the Uttorbi Arabs from the vicinity of
Bussorah seized the port of Koweit, which then
belonged to the Persians, dispossessed them, and
settled in their place. They pursued such a
spirited policy, and engaged so successfully in
commercial pursuits, that that they soon made
their power felt throughout the Gulf. I ater on
two of the three branches left Koweit to the
Al Nibah family, and established themselves at
Zobara, still maintaining friendly relations with
their kinsmen. They have always been noted as
a peaceably disposed tribe, busying themselves
in their commerce and the navigation of their
numerous vessels. At the same time they are
very strong and united, and are therefore re
spected by their neighbours. They have to a
certain extent adopted the protection of the
Turks, and formerly the Shaikh received an
annual subsidy of 200 karrahs of dates, valued at
4,009 crowns, “ on the condition of protecting
the port of Koweit against foreign aggression
whenever his aid may be required.” Latterly
this subsidy has been discontinued, and it seems
very uncertain whether the Turks exercise any
jurisdiction or influence whatever over the pos
sessions of the Shaikh. Nearly all the heads of
this family have attained to a quite patriarchal
age, as they frequently top the century before
retiring from this vale of tears.
In religion the people are Sunnis, and the
form of government is purely patriarchal,
justice being administered by the Chiefs,
whose judgment is greatly influenced by
popular opinion. The people are a fine race
physically, being generally about the average