'Administration Reports 1925-1930' [‎8v] (21/418)

only to a depth of about 200 feet. The people of Muharraq town have been given
one good well, complete with cistern and about 16 taps, which relieves them
of the trouble of drawing from a sub-marine spring. Two or three more wells
are to be sunk in this town. Outside Manama a similar well has been s t unk, and
some six or eight wells along the north coast of the big island are projected.
Towards the close of the year Shaikh Hamad signed a concession in favour
of the Eastern and General Syndicate, Limited, represented by Major Holmes, •
to explore for oil.
Kuwait. —Relations between the Shaikh and his neighbours of Iraq and
Najd were uniformally good throughout the year, although the Sultan Abdul Aziz
bin Sa'ud still prohibits his subjects from trading with the Ohiefship or importing
their requirements, through the port of Kuwait.
From January to June raids and counter-raids between IkMvan and seceders
from their camps were frequent on the outskirts of the Ohiefship, generally near
Jahrah. These only came to an end when the Iraq Government ordered the
seceders to live further north of the Najd boundary.
Major More has described five raids committed by the Ihhwan and three
iii which the seceders were the' transgressors. When the Ikhwan captured
Kuwaitis' property they generally returned it with apologies.
A migration of Kuwait pearl-divers to Oeylon in January 1925 proved un
profitable. The local pearling industry also suffered both from a small catch
and a bad market.
It is gratifying to read that communications between Kuwait and Basrah
are being improved by the construction of a road and the inauguration under a
50 years' concession of a motor-car service which will soon no doubt carry the
mails.
An Order in Oouncil, approved by His Majesty the Kin 9: Emperor in Council,
came into effect from the 1st October with the Shaikh's knowledge and
concurrence.
Najd. —Major Daly has commented on the unsatisfactory conditions pre
vailing in the districts of Eastern Arabia belonging to Ibn Sa'ud, where the
Governors (Amirs) are functioning more autocratically and harshly than when
their Sovereign resided at Riadh. In the report on the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. , also,
notice has been taken of the Hasa Amir's encroachments on the hinterland of the
Abu Dhabi Chief ship. Up to the close of the year nothing sufficiently serious
had occurred to warrant a suggestion that a protest should be made to the
Sultan.
Slave Trade. —76 salves were manumitted during the year. Of these onlv
10 took refuge in Consulates in Persia, and some of these had escaped from the
Arab Coast. It is regrettable that with regard to Kuwait and the ports of Najd
no Slave treaties exist.
Resume. —As regards South Persia it may perha-ns be said that only one
incident of importance occurred during the year which we can regret. This
was the cruel and treacherous treatment extended to the aged Shaikh of
Mohammerah.
In all other respects British interests have prospered. The future of Persia
seems to be set fair.
On the Arab side confidence about Muscat's ability to escape bankruptcy
and dismemberment is increasing. Bahrain is contented and thriving. Kuwait,
where there are onlv four Indian traders and artisans, gives no cause for anxiety.
The Chiefs of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. have perceptibly drawn nearer together and
towards this Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. owing to their common fear of Ibn Sa'ud. The last
named Prince has continued his most successful career, but the sphere of his
activities is at present so far removed from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. that he ceases to
be a subject for inclusion in this report.