Page 255 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

Bahrain and the British, 1921-1922 671

favour of tho Hoir-Apparont, Sheikh llamad. Thoro io littlo doubt
that ho did bo eololy booauso ho antioipatod that public disturbances
vrere pending, and ha fearod tho conaoquonco.
Sheikh Easa accepted tho situation and wrote officialy thut ho
hud appointed Sheikh llamad to the management of his affairs. In
conversation ho informed me that it mado no difference to him, that
ho was an old man and only wanted peuco. All ho desired was that
iiamad should inform him of anything important that ho hud done, in
order that "I should not look foolish when peoplo talk to me ". This
truly represented his outlook ut that time, before he had boon
influenced by family intriguos, ana he was always most araonablo and
easy to deal with.
Sheikh Abdulla for a short time accoptod tho situation. 1
advisod him earnestly to ondoavour to make himself popular, ana to
dispel tho ill-fooling ovorywhoro upparent towards him, in ordor
that later, ho m^’ht occupy with credit the position of Assistant
to Sheikh llaraud. He swore to no this, but lator events havo proved
that the situation is not to his liking, una that he still enter-
tuins hopes ot ousting Hamaa. from tho succession.
An insidious campaign was started by nbdullu's mothor, who is
a mastorful porson, ana has the greutest influenco on Jhcikh Easa.
This lady, holds a regular court, and imprisons ana punishes ut
will, with total aisrogara of tho most olomontary laws ol' even Arab
justice. Gradually Sheikh Easu hus beon put ugainst Ghoikh liarnad
until at thi s stugo his enmity to him, and partiality to Gheilch
Abdulla is patent to ail.
Porson3 who are oppressed, or have ordinary aisputes, aro
encouraged by Abaulla 1 s party to apply to iiamad for redress, behind
the soenes the case is misrepresented to Ghoikh Easa, who is induced
to thwart Gheikh llamad in his endeavours to dispose of the caso
expeditiously and justly. In somo cases in which ho has onuoavoured
to docido, tho mattor has boon suddenly takou out of his lianas by
Sheikh Easa himself. The news is then spread that Sheikh ilamua was
inoapable of settling the affair properly.
In municipal affairs in which tho concurrence or assistance of

I shaikh Easa is required, the matter i3 invuriabiy misrepresented to
him.