File 2297/1919 ‘Persian Gulf Residency Monthly Reports. 1912-20.’ [‎18r] (40/1044)

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Agetlt w a s present at the opening ceremony. The Council is to meet twice a
“week for discussion of all the important affairs of the State.
During the month the Council of Ministers has gradually been gettin 01
^ to work. Transport in the form of motor boats is expected to arrive shortly]
with this it Will be possible to make their authority felt in the remoter coastal
towns.
Oman developments.—The Imam Mohamed bin Abdullah al Khalili has
appointed Khamis bin Amir al Maliki, and Ali bin Badr, Walis of
Jiizwa and Rostak, respectively. Both these are renowned in Oman for their
learning moderation and political sagacity. It appears that the Omanis are
making a strong effort to justify their assurances that they are fully fit to
govern themselves. Toleration is the admitted policy, and it is remarkable
that such acts as the beating of drums on the Ids are now freely permitted,
while under the fanatical rule of the Kharusi the direst punishment would
have been meted out for such offenders against the puritanical principles
of the strictest sect of Ibadhilism.
The removal of the penal zakat has very naturally raised the price of
dates in favour of the Omanis, and dates are coming in in considerable
quantities. The season, however, promises to be a long one as the Omanis
with the certainty of a good^price and a sure demand are putting their goods
on the market gradually and are not running the risk of depreciating the
price by a sudden supply. a
Shargah.—Tte peart boats have returned to Debai, Shargah and Ras al
Khaimah. It is reported that the season has been a good one.
Koweit .—On the 8th October a report was received that a large force of
Ikhwan which subsequently proved to consist of about 4,000 men under Faisal
bin Sultan-ad-Dawish of the Mutair tribe, had left Wafrah for Subaihivah the
previous evening!.
Shaikh Salim was at Jahrah at the time, and, as soon as he received this
information, made preparation for the defence of the village. The newly built
town-wall of Koweit was also manned.
At 6 a.m. on the 10th October the Ikbwan attacked jahrah. Shaikh
Salim’s force was holding the south-west face of the village with Dhari bin
Tawalah’s mounted Shammar on the right flank and DaTj’s horsemen on the
left. The Ikhwan launched their attack on the western end of the position
which was held by the Jahrah villagers, and, after routing the Shammar* turned
the position from the north-west. By 9 a.m. the entire village was in the
hands of the Ikhwan and Shaikh Salim, with the other Shaikhs and about
six hundred men, was shut up in the fort to the south-east of the villagej the
rest of his force being dispersed.
In the afternoon Faisal ad-Dawish sent a message to Shaikh Salim,
offering him peace if he would evacuate the fort forthwith and renounce all
claim to the camels, &c., which the Ikhwan had taken, but Shaikh Salim
refused.
The Ikhwan made three determined attacks on the fort during the night
but failed to take it.
Meanwhile, very great nervousness was evident in Koweit, and the
wildest rumours were current. An attack on Koweit was feared every minute
and every available man was sent to man the wall. On the morning of the
11th October, Shaikh Ahmad aFJabir, who was in command in Koweit,
organized a relief force. About six hundred men were sent by sea in the
Shaikh’s launch “ Mishirif ” and a few sailing boats, and, at the same time,
Ibn Tawalah went out by road.
Before these reinforcements arrived, however, Faisal ad-Dawish sent an
’edim, named Ibn Sulaiman, to Shaikh Salim with definite proposals of peace.
He demanded that Shaikh Salim should put down all smoking, drinking,
gambling and prostitution in Koweit. Shaikh Salim replied that he too
disapproved of all these things, and that he was quite willing to prohibit their
being done openly by his subjects. He could not, however, answer for whafc