'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎230r] (464/470)

It is worthy of note that the opposition above referred to ceased a few days
after the deportation of Yusuf al Duwairi (August 29th), elsewhere referred to in
this report.
Blockade restrictions were formally withdrawn on 3rd November under orders
of Gr.H.Q. on conclusion of the armistice with Turkey, hut the shipping restrictions as
regards exports from India to Kuwait were still in force at the close of the year.
Deportation of Yusuf al Duwairi .—Bor a long time it had been recognised that
the influence of a man named Yusuf ibu Muhammad al Minis (commonly called
Yusuf al Duwairi) was one of the most anti-British forces in Kuwait, and Shaikh
Salim’s succession placed him in full power. He had acted as Shaikh Salim’s jackal
during the long years of his exile in the desert, and received his reward in the great
influence he exerted over Shaikh Salim and the power this influence gave him in the
town, where he was much disliked and even hated.
No favourable opportunity was found of removing him. till Shaikh Salim made .
his declaration of July 5th, 1918, that he would banish anyone acting against the
British Government in word or deed. . On August 26th the matter was broached and
on the 27th Shaikh Salim consented to send Yusuf al Duwairi to Bombay, where he
was to receive quarters and a subsistence allowance; the next day, however, he
endeavoured to beg him off on various pretexts and suggested among other things
that he be sent to Bahrain or Hasa, or to Shaikh Ibrahim of Zubair, to whom he is
said to be related on the female side. The Civil Commissioner authorised the Political
Agent to order the Shaikh to deport Yusuf al Duwairi if his advice were not accepted
and telegraphed to the Shaikh advising him to comply with the Political Agent’s
“ authoritative advice.” The Shaikh was very unwilling to take action even after
the receipt of the Civil Commissioner’s message, but _ his advisers persuaded him
that resistance was useless and Yusuf al Duwairi left in the B.M.S. Palitana on
August 29th.
Fearl Fishery .—The Kuwait pearling fleet returned from the banks during the
first half of October. There were only 328 boats from Kuwait engaged in the
fisheries in 1918 as against approximately 450, 500, and 600 in 1917, 1916, and 1915
respectively, The decrease in the number of boats is said to be due to the usual
crews from Basrah and Nejd not arriving, as they had more profitable employment
elsewhere. The takings were said to be only about three-fourths of what they were
in 1917. . . „ . ,
An exceptionallv good pearl, said to he about the size of a pigeon s egg, was got
by ‘Abdullah bin Ya‘qut of Kuwait. It was sold for Bs. 1,10,000 to Hamad bin ‘Ali
Zayani of Bahrain, who was subsequently offered Bs. H lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees for it by Shamlan of
Kuwait, but would not accept it. The pearl is said to be worth Bs. 2,20,000.
Arms Traffic .—Beports are still being received from different sources about the
smuggling of arms and ammunition from Kuwait into Tangistan on the Persian
OOctst;
On 4th October reliable news was received here that certain Tangistanis sailed
from here the previous night with ammunition for Tangistan. On 26th November
the Vice-Consul Bushire, was informed by the Provincial Director of Customs,
Bushire of a report received by the latter that 40 rifles and 50,000 cartridges from
Kuwait’were landed at Dilvar (Tangistan) about the 20th November. Rewards have
been offered here for the apprehension of arms smugglers, houses been searched by
the Shaikh in company with the 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. , and the local director of Customs is
continually on the look-out, but up to the present it has been impossible to lay hands
on any of the smugglers.
2. Revenue.— The Shaikh’s principal sources of revenue are:-
1. Customs.
2. Pearl fishery.
3. Private property.
Revenue derived from the customs has suffered a great deal in t rie year under
•eview owing to the blockade restrictions which were in force To compensate the
■Shaikh for this the Government of India gave him a piesent of Rs. 3,00,000, and
lave forgone the loan of Rs. 1,87,500 which was made him in 1915 for the erection
51 ^ThT^iafkh claims one diver’s share in each Kuwait pearling boat.
r rhp qiioikb owns several large date gardens at lao and Basrah, which bring
lim an annual revenue of about Bs. 7,09,000.
H h