'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎117v] (234/344)

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[Part VI—Chap. XLIV.
vessels of war which visited his place : and further that an answer had been written to the
letter, which he expected I would have sent for : this last prove i true as it was produced. To
this I answered that his lack of hospitality was unlike anything that I had witnessed amongst
the Arab Cliiefs especia'ly taose of consequence, that the Imam of Muscat, although his port
was often visited twice or thrice a month by Government vessels, invariaUy returned all
salutes, and sent some one of his household on board with a comp imentary message, present
of fruit or the like. In reply the Shaik again repeated that he had omitted nothing
necessary and so the subject dropped. Notwithstanding his persisting in and justifying his
refusal to return our salute and the rudeness of my reception, it is difficult to believe that
Sheik Jabir intended a gratuitous insult; but these indications would seem clearly to prove
that he values not the good opinion of the British Government, and would have little or no
faith in its power to protect him were such a thing proffered. From what I heard and from
my own observation, it would appear that although a person of some energy and rather popular
a« a ruler, he is naturally a coarse bigotted Arab extremely ignorant of all countries and
affairs excepting those with which he is immediately concerned and believing Mahomed
Ali to he the greatest potentate on earth: this consideration and the fact of an emissary
(an Fgyptian Turk) from Khorshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. being now, and having for many months been
resident at Koweit, may help to explain his conduct. This agent is ostensibly placed in
Koweit to purchase barley, some boat-loads of which have really been sent by him to Kutest,
although no grain is grown at Koweit, it being imported fro-n the Bussora river and Persian
Coast; but his more important and real duties are doubtless to intrigue, gain - information,
and to watch Bu^sora. He is well treated by the Sheik, who gives him the first place at his
assembly or durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , and it seems not improbable that we were slighted in order that it may
be reported to the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. that the English receive no encouragement at Koweit. As we have no
treaty with and have not of late years been (1 believe) very intimately connected with Koweit,
the Sheik's conduct so far as allying himself with Egypt (and that he has submitted or allied
himself or contemidates doing so can scarcely be doubted) would not appear so reprehensible as
that of other Chiefs, who have been directly advised against the step and who have treaties
with us : but I w^uld beg to suggest that some means of shewing the displeasure of Government
might be adopted, such as for instance abstaining from affording protection to his vessels, or
recovering any property lost by plunderers, etc. As Koweit exists purely by its traffic such a
measure if made known would be severely felt and might effect eome change in Sheik Jabir:
at any rate it would shew others that although the English men-of-war giatuitously perform
the police duties of this sea, they will no longer be permitted to protect the pioperty of these
who insult them by refusing to return their salutes.
Leaving Koweit we proceeded to Fuleeja, distant about ten miles, and in fact forming
one side of the harbour ; day was spent in examining the inner or western, and the following
two days the opposite and outer side of the island. It is about eight miles long, by two or
three wide, extremely low, and to all appearance .ewampy ; after rain or high tides, the soil
though sandy is by no means bad, and there is plenty of fresh water and no great depth from
the surface. The only village at present inhabited is Zoor containing from 100 to 150
families mostly engaged in fi^hin?, and situated on the western side of the island. I there
fell in with Moobarruk, the petty Sheik of the place, a relative and dependant of the Koweit
Sheik ; he also on the following day came on board the vessel to bring a sick man for advice.
From Moobarruk's account the climate of Fuleeja must be very bad, for he said that most of
the children died and that the people generally suffered much from fever ; the appearance of
the place certainly warrants this assertion. On the western and protected side of the island
the shoals run out so far that steamers and the smallest sized ships could not approach nearer
than four miles ; on the eastern side there is water enough at half this distance but then the
anchorage is expo-ed and there are no inhabitants. On the whole I think Fuleeja ill adapted
for either a naval or military station even less so than I arrak, for although it possesses the
advantiges of comparative fertility, good holding ground and on one side sheltered and safe
anchorage for shipping, yet the inconvenient distance (especially so for steamers coaling)
at which vessels must remain and the probable greater unhealthiness of the place are serious
drawbacks.
Although Fuleeja*possesses few advantages, there are several considerations connected with
the neighbouring town of Koweit, which has already risen to considerable commercial
importance on the decline of Bussora to render it worthy of attention should it be resolved
to evacuate Karrak and gain possession of some other place; as also if a coal depot and
rendezvous for the vessels of war only were sought for. Its first recommendation is the
magnificent harbour, the only one in this Gulf capable of receiving very large vessels. As
all the supplies come from the Persian Coast and Bussora River, and as all depend upon the
sea for their livelihood, the place might be easily controlled by a naval force only. The chief
merchants are men of wealth and the whole population seem actuated by a commercial spirit
and much less addicted than the generality of Arabs to engaging in feuds. A line of battle
ships would ride two miles from the town and ordinary vessels at half that distance. I have
already stated its advantages as regards the overland post, and it is a place where intelligence
would from the number of boats resorting there be quickly received from every part of the
Gulf. As compared to other places in this sea, the natives praise the climate of Koweit, but
as they say that the old Bussora Factory An East India Company trading post. resided there for some seven or eight years there may
possibly he some record of its effect on European constitution. Kowqit is certainly the mos^