'File X/3 Disorders & Raids near Basra & in Koweit [Kuwait] Hinterland' [‎45v] (90/303)

'ajf’oi
raid. This time, it is said, all Bedouins will be ordered to take their families
with them for their presence is supposed to infuse a higher courage in the
fighting men.
Extracts from Diary No. 13 of the Kuwait Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for the week ending
30 th March igio.
* * * 28 th March. —It is reported that Shaikh Mubarak has made
fresh demands from all Kuwait people. Those who had given one “ Khabra ”
(a tent with seven men and five camels) for the first raid have now been asked
to give seven camels and ten men. Even the lowest class of people have had to
contribute. It is said that for the first raid the prostitutes were required to give
coffee pots each one from one to three pots according to her means. This time,
it is said, they have been asked to give bedding. Merchants who owe money
to the Shaikh for dates and loans taken from him have been pressed for
immediate payments but some are unable to comply having only goods and no
ready cash. All carpenters have been commandeered by the Shaikh’s men to
make camel saddles, etc. There is great scarcity of camel equipments in the
local market as what was available had been already bought up for the first raid.
Camels and firearms ar$ plentiful but their prices have almost doubled and the
Bedouins are reaping a golden harvest over the latter.
It is reported that Shaikh Mubarak has ordered men from Fao and Dora
to come and join him for the forthcoming raid. * * * #
2 gth March. —Among others who were killed in the recent raid, are Abdur
Rahman ibn Hallaf of the Shaikhs of Us Said of the Dhaffir section and Lahil ibn
Mundil of the Bani Khalid. Thamir ibn Sadun, it is said, was wounded. * * *
30 th March. —It is reported that Shaikh Mubarak has given Bin Saud
500 camels and 400 rifles towards fitting out his men. % % %
It is reported that Shaikh Mubarak has given clothes to all his fighting men
who have been looted by the Muntafik. * * *^
Note.
Shaikh MubaraPs Military Arrangements.
The unit of organisation is called a “ khabra ” and consists of
10 men with their arms.
7 “ Thaluls ^ with their equipment.
1 tent.
Food for as many days as may be ordered.
The richer merchants are assessed individually to provide so many “ khabra”
complete. Smaller tradesmen are lumped together as also are the Divers and
Boat Nakhudas. The men required for these “ khabra ” would be mostly hired
and paid by the persons providing the “ kha.bra ” at from $ 6 to § 8 a month
with food extra. Their arms and “thaluls” would belong to the “khabra”
owner.
Foreigners such as Persian merchants are assessed in cash at whatever sum
the Shaikh considers he can safely extract from them.
The Shaikh from this money and his own finances provides generally an
equal number of “ khabra” buying the camels himself and supplying the arms
and tents from his own stocks. Men required by the Shaikh for hfs “ khabra ”
in excess of his own permanent following would be impressed from the town
people and do not receive any hire beyond their food.
ci M^ n ac ^^ on to t } ie ^ove force, who would all be Kuwait town Arabs, the
Shaikh calls out such sections or whole tribes of Bedouin as he may require,
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