"تقارير إدارية ١٩٠٥-١٩١٠" [ظ‎‎١‎٥‎١] (٦١٦/٣٠٧)

j10 administration report of the persian gulf political residency
Government than he was to any other power. There is now, however, no room
for doubt and, though it would be idle to pretend that friction never occurs
harmonious relations have beeu the rule and the signs of increased confidence
and a desire to please are evident in every direction. [Nor is this improvement
confined to the Sheikh only. The prestige of the Agency has undonbtedlv
increased and it would not be too much to say that the Agency is now
regarded with approval by almost all classes of the population. Service of one
kind and another is eagerly sought after, petty street insults no longer occur
and the name of " quarantine " no longer calls down curses on the British
representative and his staff.
It is interesting to note that the Sheikh has taken into his employ an
Englishman, Mr. Henry Kemp, who is the engineer of the Sheikh's yacht.
Be is a quiet unassuming man who seldom moves out of his ship but he seems
to suit Sheikh Mubarak thoroughly well.
The Sheikh has also during the year imported a motor car of French
manufacture from Bombay. An Indian chauffeur (Musalman) was engaged ona
three months' agreement. After the expiry of the agreement the chauffeur was
allowed to return to India. The motor car is now looked after and driven by
one of the men in the Sheikh's employ, his coachman Ali, who has something
of a turn for mechanics.
P ublic B uildings.
During the year under report, Sheikh Mubarak has built a very fine
suite of reception rooms in front of his old house. They are on the top of the
old stables. The rooms are well furnished in European style.
The Sheikh has also changed his flagstaff. The new staff is on higher
ground and very much higher than the old one. It tops everything in the
town except the Agency flagstaff.
E oreigners.
The visits of Messrs. Elbaz and Vram have been already noted under
" Arms Trade. " Their movements were watched during the time they remained
in Koweit.
A Mr. G. Guays of English parentage, a convert to Islam, arrived in
Koweit about the middle of June and wished to travel in Central Arabia. He
was, however, advised by the Political Agent not to do so as it was risky and
dangerous to travel in those parts. He disguised himself as a Turk and called
himself Abdulla. He remained in Koweit for some time and at last seeing
that he could not carry out his intentions finally left for Bombay by a British
India steamer. He was formerly in the employ of that Company and his
present profession is that of a mining engineer.
Butirbin-Rashid of the Sheikhs of Dubai arrived in March and was the
Sheikh of Koweit's guest during the time he remained in Koweit. He visited
Sheikh Khazal of Muhammerah with Sheikh Mubarak and returned to Dubai
via Koweit and Maskat. While in Koweit, Buti-bin-Rashid paid a visit to
the Political Agent, which was duly returned.
Q uarantine.
Owing to the outbreak of plague in Bahrein islands, quarantine was
imposed by the Sheikh on all steam and sailing vessels arriving from that port
until the end of July when Bahrein was declared a free port. The services
of the Assistant Surgeon were placed at the disposal of the Sheikh for
quarantine duty. Quarantine restrictions are only imposed now on pas
sengers arriving by fast mails of the British India Company from Karachi.
While it would be premature to suppose that quarantine is regarded with
favour in Koweit, the bitter prejudice, excited by its very name in the begin
ning, is now much less in evidence and the Sheikh's officials co -operate much
more readily than they used to. Much, however, remains to be done before
quarantine can be pronounced satisfactory.