'File 13/3 Arms Traffic' [‎202v] (404/608)

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Persia by the northern Gulf ports. The firm’s imports by steamers are not as
large as might be expected, consisting chiefly of rice. It is also the fact I believe
that they finance some of the local shroffs in the bazaar. The above may be
said to be their ostensible business.
5. Anterior to 1910 the family shared with the other Persian house of Haji
Mahomed Taqi the distinction of being the largest wholesale arms-dealers in
Kuwait and their boats were largely employed in the arms traffic between Maskat
and this port: at that time there seems to be no doubt the sale and purchase of
arms and ammunition was their main business and at the end of 1909 they were
reported to have a stock of nearly 6,ooo rifles and 1,500 cases of ammunition
on their premises. How far they have succeeded in keeping up the trade it is
difficult to conjecture but there seems little doubt that they constantly attempt
smuggling and should their boats escape the Naval patrol there is every likeli
hood of their being able to land the arms in Kuwait without the Shaikh’s
knowledge, by the simple expedient of bribing his Customs officials. I was told
that they succeeded in importing as much as 500 arms a month but cannot
credit figure. Ismail Marafi is in constant communication with Maskat and his
agents there are M. Nichan and the Goguyer firm and Mirza Husain. There
now seems little doubt that the consignment of so called Loaf Sugar which was
over carried by the S. S. “ Palamcotta ”, and that captured by the Customs
officials in Bombay in the course of transhipment were destined for Ismail Marafi.
A search through previous ships’ manifests brought the following suspicious
consignments to light, of which delivery had been taken as stated below :—
20 cases Loaf Sugar mark M. K. shipped at Maskat, reached Kuwait by
S.S. “ Bulimba” on the 24th March 1911, and delivery taken by
Ismail Marafi.
25 cases Loaf Sugar mark K K-B.^ both transhipped from S.S. “ Lich-
26 „ „ ,, ,, S.M.K.) tenfels ” to S.S. “Madura” at
Bombay reached Kuwait on 6th April 1911, *and delivery taken
hy Ismail Marafi.
\ case Hardware mark A J. K. transhipped from S.S. u Lichtenfels ” to
S.S. “ Madura ” at Bombay, reached Kuwait on 6th April 1911,
and delivered to Haji Mahomed Ali Marafi.
25 cases Loaf Sugar mark K R.B. discovered in course of landing from
S.S. “ Palamcotta” on 24th July 1911.
If the firm dispose of these arms in Kuwait it must be done secretly for
since the Shaikh’s prohibition there is no open sale of arms in Kuwak and I
imagine that the family finds its best market on the Persian coast.
6 I do not think that either Mahomed Ali or Ismail Marafi have as yet any
intimate relations with the German firm of Wonckhaus, though no doubt they
sell barley and wheat to this firm as offering them better prices than others—
most of the barley purchased this year by Abdulla “ German! ” in Kuwait was
supplied by the Marafi house.
7. Haji Abdul Karim’s son, Abdul Hassan, however is said to have received
a large advance from the German firm by way of forward purchase money and
that he will buy what he can in Mashur and Hindian, shipping the grain if
possible at the Shatt-el-Arab bar into the German Steamers. Beyond this I
have heard of no other collection with the German firm.
W. H. I. SHAKESPEAR, Captain,
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. , Kuwait.
G.C. B. P., Simla.—No C235 P. D—14M0-1!.-44.--H.C.S.L