Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎368v] (741/1028)

that they could not pay naukhodas or divers their shares of the previous season'
catch, even though they had their safes full of pearls. The divers would take no
excuses and demanded money to keep them alive. Things became so acute that
the Ruler had to step in and force merchants to find money somehow to relieve
the distress. The principal sufferers were of course the diver community and
to-day their lot is not to be en vied. ^
One can only hope that the 1931 season willbe'a better one, for Kuwait’s very
existence depends on the Pearl Market so long as the land blockade continues
The pearl season opened on loth May (Rakba) and closed on 20th Sentemhpr
(Guffal). F^mDer
VI.— Condition of the Country (Law and Order).
This has been more satisfactory than at any period during the last 9 years
These good results were due to two things—
(a) The successful operations of the King of Hejaz and Nejd against the rebel
Akhwan tribes which ended in their surrender and subsequent punishment early
in February which have had a very healthy effect on the Bedouin of Arabia
generally.
(h) The better defensive arrangements made by the Ruler of Kuwait as a
result of the introduction of his armed Ford car desert force. This force following
the successful methods adopted in the ’Iraq Southern desert has brought any point
on the frontier fine of Kuwait within a day’s march of headquarters, and on the
slightest rumour of a raid or incident, cars rapidly move out to the scene of trouble
deal with it and return all in the matter of one day. Results will be even more
satisfactory when Kuwait is able to bring her armed car strength up to 12 as is the
eventual objective.
The following tribal incidents were dealt with during the year :
(а) On 1st March 5 'Iraq robbers were caught red handed stealing sheep in
Kuwait territory. They were duly apprehended brought into Kuwait
and handed over to the Commandant, ’Iraq Southern Desert Police for
pumshment.
(б) The above incident was followed up early in March by an epidemic of
robberies in several cases accompanied by violence, on the part of
the Iraq shepherd tribes camped in the Northern part of Kuwait.
Things came to^a pass when the Kuwait tribes and their Ruler asked
for permission to retaliate. 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. decided that the
best course was to call in the Iraq Commandant of Police Southern
Desert and get him to control the shepherd tribes by posting a
force of Police with them. The Commandant himself to come and
assist in the settlement of complaints and the restitution of property.
I he plan worked well, and after 10 days’ streneous work among the
Kuwait and shepherd tribes during which period 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. ,
the Commandant of Police and a representative of the Shaikh laboured
in closest harmony, all claims were settled, and disturbers of the peace
duly pumshed.
(c) Early in May ’Iraq Dhafir raiders carried off six camels and 2 mares
from the Shaikh’s Fidawiyeh. These were recovered through the
mswentahty 0 f Captain Glubb, Inspecting Officer,^Southern 'Iraq
(d) On 28th May reports were received that 64 camels had been raided by the
Dhaiir from one Daas al-Kuthairi and 16 other Kuwait subjects,
a so t at six camels belonging to Subah al-Xasir had been subse
quently stolen. Complaint was at once made to Captain Glubb
but the animals have not yet been recovered.
(<) On 25th September a small raiding party of Harb rounded up and drove
°, ® camels belonging to one Faleh ibn Khudaiyir of Kuwait and
shot the man in charge. The owner accompanied by the Shaikh’s
men vigorously pursued, caught up the raiders in the Traq Neutral
ne, 150 miles away and brought back 5 of the raiders and 4 camels.
Negotiations are still proceeding with the Nejd authorities for the
recovery of the remainder.