'Administration Reports 1905-1910' [‎299v] (603/616)

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ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
News was brought in by a Bahrain boat and the boom recovered. Shaikh
Mubarak then caused secret enquiries to be made and despatched men in all
directions to find the bodies of the victims, but none of these were ever washed
up,.
On the 18th August, two of the pirates were arrested in Kuwait. One of
them on being promised pardon, turned informer and gave the details, and the
other was the Nakhuda of the helium. All the pirates belonged to villages
near Dowasir on the Shatt-el-Arab and took refuge on the Turkish side,
though subjects of the Shaikh of Mohammerah. Endeavours have been made
to lay them by the heels but without success, though their names are known.
In the meantime the two pirates arrested remain in prison in Kuwait.
Another piratical raid was committed, in September, by Bani Hajir
Bedouin in three large boats in the vicinity of the Hazaim near Ras Khafji,
and 160 Awazim sheep were looted. The raiders were headed by one Mehsin
ibn Athan from Bahrain. Endeavours have been made to punish the leader
through the Shaikh of Bahrain but so far without success.
Owing to the vigilance of the British men-of-war in the Gulf of Oman
Arms Traffic. an( ^ ^^kh's own orders prohibiting
Kuwait boats from loading arms, the
import into Kuwait has practically stopped.
The news of the capture of a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. at Khor Fukhan with firearms to the
value of Rs. 20,000 and of the capture and return to Maskat of the late Haji
Muhammad Taqi's boom, which was coming to Kuwait with arms, had an ex
cellent effect on the minds of the arms dealers in Kuwait.
On the 10th of March Mons. Vram from Maskat landed from the British
India slow mail " Bulimba" to see some of his Najdi creditors.
From the same steamer, one Haji Muhammad Hussein, son-in-law of the
late Haji Muhammad Taqi, succeeded in smuggling 30 Mauser pistols and 10
rifles and ammunition concealed in his and his friends' personal luggage into
boats, but the matter was brought to the Shaikh's notice and he confiscated
the weapons but subsequently released them on payment of double import
duty.
At about the same time 170 rifles were found hidden in a buggalow Large trading vessel. , the
property of Nasir (Shaikh Mubarak's blind son), which came from Maskat.
These were also confiscated and subsequently released on payment of double
import duty. These rifles belonged to Ewaz-bin-Muhammad, another son-in-
law of the late Haji Muhammad Taqi.
In May a Maskat Samhook belonging to Goguyer et Cie, and flying
the French flag brought and landed in Kuwait 301 Gras carbines and 25 cases
ammunition for Abdulla-bin-Muhammad-ul-Atiji. The matter was brought
to the Shaikh's notice by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and, after some difficulty, the
consignment was confiscated under the Shaikh's orders from Abdulla-bin-
Muhammad-ul-Atiji's house and brought over to the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . Subsequently,
the Shaikh preferred to have it in his own custody, and it was finally deposited
in one of his godowns under seal, the Shaikh agreeing not to remove the arms
without the British Government's sanction. The confiscation of the arms
from Atiji's house caused much consternation and gossip, and had a most ex
cellent effect in' checking the trade.
Mons. Nichan Hormaszian, a Maskat arms merchant, arrived in
Kuwait, on the 19th May. It was reported that he had also smuggled some
rifles and revolvers hidden in his luggage but had paid the Shaikh his Cus
toms dues. His visit was to collect outstandings for his firm.
On the 2nd of June, Mons. Albert Lagasse, another arms dealer in Maskat,
arrived with a letter of introduction from the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Maskat.
His visit was also to collect outstandings due to his firm, Messrs. Baijeot et
Cie. He left for Maskat on the 16th June having recovered some Rs. 10,000,
Monsieur Nichan also travelling by the same steamer.
On the 9th of June Mons. Elbaz aliaz Ebrahim of the firm of Goguyer
et Cie arrived with an Arab broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. . He came to treat with the Shaikh about