‘Koweit [Kuwait]. A report compiled in the Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General’s Department’ [‎4] (16/66)

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piracy, which they practised on the lower reaches of the Shatt-
el-Arab, and in the northern end of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . In the
17th Century, the authorities at Basrah expelled them from
their stronghold, and the tribe moved down the Bubiyan Creek,
to the great bay, now known as that of Koweit. Crossing to
the southern shore, the Sheikh erected a fort or " Khote," and
hence the present name; (which is pronounced Quoit or Quait).
It was about 1716 that three clans of the A1 Uttub tribe,
the Beni Subah, the A1 Yalahimeh, and the A1 Khalifeh, entered
into a mutual compact or alliance, and still further strengthened
their position, where Koweit now stands, by inter-marriage
with other clans, with a view to being able to resist the attacks
of their powerful neighbours, the Beni Khalid Arabs.* They
intended to follow the occupation of agriculturists and mer
chants, and to share the profits equally. The Beni Subah
were to exercise the functions of Government; the Yalahimeh
carried on the maritime, while the Khalifeh managed the
mercantile branch of their small commonwealth.
In the course of fifty years, the new settlement had attained
a very high degree of prosperity. The accumulation of wealth
seems to have led the mercantile branch of the league to wish
to secede from the original compact, in order that they might
enjoy, and add to, their acquired riches without sharing them.
Accordingly, Khalifeh bin Mahommed, Sheikh of the Al
Khalifeh, repiesented to the other two tribes the openings for
trade and the advantages generally of forming a settlement on
some spot in that part of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. which is close to the
most productive pearl fisheries.
The Sheikh was permitted to leave Koweit with part of
is tribe, and settled at Zobara, on the Bahrein coast. Here he
was gtadually joined ^ by the rest of his tribe and at length he
completely severed ^ his connection with the other two tribes at
Koweit, and established the independence of his new colony
3.l juou3.i3.,
1 u T h T? A1 ^ ubah ' more powerful of the two clans thus
0 . w ® .' soon felt absence of their commercial breth-
AiV 11 ! I- u C1 fu nCy ln , their finan ces, and after first refusing the
Yalahimeh their share of the revenue, ultimately expelled
them from the port and town of Koweit.
nnrl JJ 16 fTf! led tr i lbe settled cIose to th eir brethren of Zobara,
annihnlfln K .r s f, v f'u t ?-? iracy> but were shor t 1 y afterwards
annihilated by the Al Khalifeh tribe, the influence and power of
which rapidly increased. H
two^Sjr 501133 ^- t0 bave con tinued between the
o remaining clans, once associated a t Koweit; for mention is
these Beni Khalid soimcTrwh^ 5tr ' Ct8 ' Hasa, and Katr belonged to
march from Koweit! 0m 0CCUpied P oints on coast only one day'.