ملف ٢٢٩٧/ ١٩١٩ "تقارير شهرية للمقيمية البريطانية في الخليج الفارسي. ١٩١٢-١٩٢٠." [ظ‎‎٤‎٨‎٧] (١٠٤٤/٩٧٩)

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126. Bin-Sand left his camp in Urmah to raid the Ataiba tribe and had the
Umtair, Al-Morrah, Sabai’ and Sahul tribes with him.
Condition of Roads. 127. Caravans are proceeding peaceably by the Buraidah road.
British Interests.
128. The local agent of the Arab Steamers, Limited, has, apparently under
orders from the Company’s Managing Agents in Bombay, made a general reduc
tion in the rates of freight and passages to Bombay and Gulf Ports.
Deck passengers for Bahrain and Bombay are being booked for Rs. 4 and Rs.
12 per adult as against Rs. 6 and Rs. 14, respectively, the British India Company’s
rates.
129. The British India Steam Navigation Company’s SS. “ Patiala ” due
on the 22nd February stranded at about 2-30 a.m. on the 24th on the south side
of Ras-el-Arz promontory. The ship’s Chief Officer reported the accident to the
Political Agent, who immediately communicated with the Officer Commanding
R.I.M.S. “ Palinurus The “ Palinurus ” at once left for Ras-el-Arz and
made two abortive attempts to tow the steamer off. Though the Shaikh was also
requested to assist with lighters, they were delayed and only 3 reached the ship
about sunset. As the position of the “ Patiala ” would have been exceedingly
unsafe in a south-east wind, urgent representations were made by the Political
Agent and be eventually obtained the despatch of a number of boats and lighters
on the 25th, but the ship having been unloaded of her Kuwait cargo during the
night was towed off by the “ Palinurus ” at high water on the 25th evening.
Her propellor fouled a wire hawser which was not cleared until 3 p.m. on Mon
day, the 26th, when she left for Basrah.
Foreign Intereste. 130, (a) The deputation which was expected from Basrah [vide paragraph
43) arrived on the 2nd February to present the decoration to the Shaikh. It
consisted of Abdul Malek Effendi, Mufti-el-Busreh; Muhammad Pasha, leading
Busrah merchant; Naim Beg, Rais Makamat-el-Bhudaiah and HajiTa’ah Chalabi,
member of Busrah Chamber of Commerce. The investiture took place on the
3rd at the Shaikh’s palace in the presence of a large crowd. After Naim Beg
and Abdul Malek Effendi had dwelt in a short preface in Turkish and Arabic on
the cordial relations existing between the Ottoman Empire and the Shaikh, the
Order of the Medjidie, 1st Class, was formally presented to the Shaikh bySaiyid
Rajab, Nakib of Basrah, and the deputies returned to Basrah in the Shaikh’s
launch on the 4th.
(5) The Shaikh informed the Political Agent that the Order was given in return
for his subscription to the Constantinople fire last June. The Political Agent
did not attend the investiture as he had no formal invitation, the circumstances
being explained to the Shaikh.
131. A traveller by name Monsieur Barclay Raunkiaer arrived in Kuwait
on 29th January from Basrah. He carried a letter of recommendation to the
Shaikh from the Wali of Basrah describing him merely as a traveller of Danish
nationality wishing to go to Hofuf. He wears Arab costume and speaks French
and English well, but knows very little Arabic and is accompanied by one servant
interpreter, a Baghdad Christian. He is travelling as a naturalist explorer under
the auspices of the Danish Geographical Society, his object being a preliminary
reconnaissance to ascertain on what lines an ethnographical, botanical and geo
graphical expedition could be undertaken by the Danish Geographical Society.
He carries only some small compasses and botanical boxes and appears to be
ill-equipped for his task. He left on the 24th for Buraidah, Anezah, Riadh
and thence to Hofuf and Bahrain travelling with a large caravan, the direct route
to Hofuf being unsafe. He carried introductory letters from the Shaikh to Bin
Saud, so should achieve his object without much difficulty. During his stay in
Kuwait he lived with the Shaikh and called several times on the Political Agent.
Miscellaneous. ^ 32 . Lieutenant F. H. Malyon, 21st Punjabis, arrived by mail steamer of
8th February and is staying with the Political Agent, studying Arabic.