Page 310 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

726 Records oj Bahrain
Shiah Bahrainie and they wore always allowed a free hand

in their dealings with Shiahs. La at year when the
Bahrainis beoamo increasingly restive, they ropeatodly
prosood on Sheik Hamad the necessity for taking repressive
measures. The Sheiks howovor, were thoroughly alarraod
and afraid to push mattoro to tho oxtoni Advocatod bjf foho
Dowaoir. Tho lattor aakod pormionion to deal with certain
oootionB of tho Bahrainia thomsolvoo, but Sheikh Hamad

rofuood. His own position owing to Abdulla'o intrigues
was delicate, and ho was aware that if disorders resulted
ho might bo hold responsible and Abdulla would make much
of tho situation. Tho Dowaoir bitterly criticised this
attitude, but woro alno afraid to take the law into their
hands, oince they diotrust tho Shoik/s, and ouopocted
that, ohould their action cause disorders the hlane would
be plucod upon then to clour tho Sheiks. They have since
frequently tried to force Sheik/ Hamad's hand by picking

quarrels with the Bahrainis, an oxanplo of which wan the
'Barbar1 affair which wan reported at the time. This
matter has never been settled. Although they dare not
admit it, tho Rulera know that tho Dowaeir dolllrorately
instigated the affair. They would gladly sacrifice tho
|Bahrainis to placate the Dowaoir who continue to press

[for 'redress' but are afraid thr.t such action would cause
ja revolt among, tho Sh&^jhn. Thoy theroforo continually
[ delay a full enquiry.
It is probablo that tho recent more dotermined
attitude of tho Bahrain Shiahs to rid thomnolvoo of
oppression is displeasing to Bin Saud. I suspaot this
form the attitude of hio^ agont hero in the matter. Bin
Baud hua Shiah oubjeotn at Qatif who are closely oonnoot-

ed with tho Bahrainia A whom ho taxes out of all propor­
tion to their wealth. Reports havo onoe or twioo reooivod
that thoy woro inclinod to rosont tho treatment and on