"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٩] (٦١٦/٣٠٢)

and the maskat political agency for the year 1907-1908. jq5
CHAPTEli X.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT o£ TtTE KOWfilT POLITICAL
AGENCY EOR THE YEAR 1907-1908.
N ejd A ffairs.
During the first-lialf of the year under report, cofitinuotis eontradictnry
rumours were received of fighting between the two powers of Central Arabia.
Bin Rashid appears to have been at the Zenith of his power aboiifc September-
when he entered Boraida with the support of the townspeople and the powerful
Umtair tribe. The latter, headed by their Sheikh Paisal, Were smarting
under losses sustained by them in a fight with Bin Sa'ud's levies that took
place in April under the walls of Majma', in which town they to&k refuge.
A messenger from Sheikh Mubarak, Abdu Aziz A1 Hassan, was sent from
Koweit in September ostensibly to make peace between the two parties.
It would appear, however, that he lulled the suspicions of Sultan-bin-Rashid",
detached the Umtair and then called up Hn Sa'ud to fight. The final result
of the operations round Boraida was the decline of Sultan's power and the
ruler of Riadh is now in undisturbed possession. News during the last part
of the year has been meagre and Central Arabia appears to have been
enjoying a period of comparative tranquillity.
The despatch of Abdul Aziz A1 Hassan and the general trend of events
have given rise to the assumption—by no means unwarranted—that the distur
bances of this year were skilfully engineered by Sheikh Mubarak, He wished
to show the ruler of Riadh that he could not afford to stand independent
Of Koweit support and yet, at the critical moment, when Bin Sa'ud was
seriously threatened. Sheikh Mubarak threw his tveight into the opposite
scale and has, for the time being, completely destroyed the power of the Bin
Rashid family, who, he probably fully realises, are irreconcileable enemies.
T ribal P olitics.
Thaffir.'—'News was received in the close of April of the death of
Ja'ilan-bin-Swait, who was succeeded by his young son, Mohamed-bin-Ja'ilan.
His uncle, Hamud, is said to manage the tribal affairs.
Ajman. —Muhammad-bin-Hithlain was released in May, ais full repara
tion had been made for the depredations committed by the tribe against
the Koweit Bedouins. This man now appears to have had his position as
Sheikh of the Ajman acknowleged by the Turkish authorties at El Hasa.
Vmtair. —This tribe has been much in evidence during the year and
mention has already been made of them under Nejd Affairs.
There was trouble between them and the Bani Thwaihy, a branch of the
Thaffir, who are on specially friendly relations with Koweit and Sheikh
Mubarak, called on the Umtair to restore the property they had raided.
As a punishment for not doing so and also, no doubt, for the pro
minent part he took against Abdul Aziz-bin-Sa'ud at Boraida, Paisul ad
Dowish, the Sheikh of the Elwa Umtair, was imprisoned by Sheikh Mubarak
all the last half of November. He was not released until the fine decreed by
Sheikh Mubarak had been collected.
Other raids of lesser importance were reported, but everything goes to
show that the Sheikh of Koweit still retains undoubted authority over the
neighbouring Bedouin tribes.
N avy.
About the middle of April, His Excellency Commodore Sir George
Warrender, Bart, C. B., M. V. O., visited Koweit. He was accom
panied by the Resident, Persian Gulf. On arrival, the Political Agent, accom
panied by Sheikh Jabirinthe absence of his father, went to welcome His
Excellency on board the H. M. S. Eyacinth. Sheikh Jabir on leaving the
ship received a salute of 5 guns. In the evening His Excellency the