"تقارير إدارة أقسام ومناطق الأراضي المحتلة في بلاد الرافدين لسنة ١٩١٨. المجلد I" [و‎‎٢‎٣‎١] (٤٧٠/٤٦٦)

^ E ' S ^ h Sir Kha zal Khan, G.C.I.E, K.C.S.I., arriyed in Kuwait on
Jbtn June and left on August 21st. He returned again with Shaikh Ghadhban, of
Bam Lam, on 3rd November, and both left on 28th idem.
ihe Commodore, Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia, Captain D. Norris, arrived in
Kuwait m H.M.S. Juno ” on June 12th, and left on 15th idem.
J he . Hon’hie. Major-General Sir Percy Cox, G.C.I.E., K.C.S.I., arrived from
Bushire m H.M.S. Lawrence ” on August 19th, and left for Muhammarah by the
same ship on August 21st.
Brigadier-General Hughes, Director I.W.T., Colonel Ratsey, D.D.I.W.T., and
Lieut.-Col. Macrae, C.N.C., visited Kuwait on November 26th, and returned to
Basrah next day.
E. E. Gunter, Esquire, Director of Persian Gulf Telegraphs, visited Kuwait on
November 27th, and left for Bushire on 28th idem.
Pilgrimage. Shaikh Ahmed ibn Jabir (nephew of Shaikh Salim) with a large
number of retainers, and other pilgrims, numbering about 1,500, left Kuwait on
August 8th for Mecca and arrived back on October 29th. The journey each way,
exclusive of halts, took 32 days. They were very pleased with the reception given
them by the Sharif, but state that while travelling through his territory they were
harassed the whole time, whereas in Bin Sa‘ud’s country there was absolutely order
and safety.
Water Plant .—Arrangements have at length been made for the working of the
Kuwait water plant. It is hoped that it will commence continuous work during
the next month.
13. Establishment and Personnel. —The charge of the Political Agency
continued to be held by Lieut.-Colonel 11. E. A. Hamilton to the afternoon of 15th
March, when he proceeded on combined leave, and was relieved by Captain P. G.
Loch. The latter proceeded on privilege leave on 19th September, handing over
charge of the current duties to Captain D. Y. McCollum, who remained in office till
the close of the year.
Hon. Lieut. C. C. Kelly, I.S.M.D., continued to be in medical charge of the
agency and quarantine arrangements to the 1st September 1918. He was transferred
to India and his duties here were taken over temporarily by Dr. C. S. G. Mylrea of
the American Mission.
D. Y. McCollum, Captain,
Political Agent,
Kuwait.
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX A.
THE ‘AJMAN QUESTION.
At the end of 1914 fighting took place between Bin Sa‘ud and Ibn Kashid which was indecisive
and ended in a truce. Amongst the tribes which had collected ostensibly for the support of Bin
Sa‘ud on this occasion was the ‘Ajman, a Beduin tribe from Hasa, which failed to appear at the
appointed time and was therefore suspected of treachery. Later they committed certain depreda
tions and gave refuge to some rebellious cousins of Bin Sa‘ud known as the Araif, and in June 1915
Bin Sa‘ud decided to organise a campaign against them. He solicited aid from Kuwait and Sir
Mubarak despatched a strong force of local tribesmen under his son, Shaikh Salim; but before
their arrival Bin Sa‘ud made a night attack on the ‘Ajman, for which they were prepared, and was
defeated losing his brother Sa‘ad among the killed. Later, however, with the aid of Sir Mubarak’s
force he managed to hem in the ‘Ajman near the coast, a short distance north of Qatif. Here they
were besieged for some little time, at the end of which they were badly defeated by the Bani
Khalid and other Kuwait tribes in an attempt to break through, and then, despairing of escape,
opened negotiations for peace with Shaikh Salim, who sent them to Kuwait, where their submission
was accepted by Sir Mubarak against the wishes of Bin Sa‘ud, who desired further to avenge the
death of his brother. This happened early in November 1915, and on the death of Sir Mubarak,
which took place at the end of the month, his successor, Shaikh Jabir, in order to placate Bin Sa‘ud
ejected the ‘Ajman from Kuwait territory and they dispersed, the majority making for the north
west, as they feared to return to their former haunts in Hasa. The asylum given to the ‘Ajman
tribe was one of the important factors leading to the unfortunate estrangement which has lately
existed between Najd and Kuwait. In November 1916 a meeting took place at Kuwait between
the three great chiefs of north-east Arabia, Bin Sa‘ud, Shaikh Jabir and the Shaikh of
Muhammarah, under the aegis of the chief Political Officer, at which they openly declared their
allegiance to the British Government. As one of the results of tins meeting a truce was arranged