Page 364 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

700 Records of Bahrain

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tho meantime of solomn pacta botween Shaikh ’Isa and the tribes, that tlioy
would novor desert each othor, that tlioy would cmigrato in a body and leavo
tho Island, that thoy had no uso for a Majh's at which they would sit in com-
pany with that objoctionablo porson, tho foroigner and thoir own ryots, tho
Baharinah. I took occasion to warn Shaiks Hamad and Abdullah that Shaikh
*Ica was in no sonso a freo agent, that I saw no necessity for him to leavo
Bahrain at all, and in any case, if ho found tho now regimo so distasteful, l
oxpoctcd him to consult tho British Government as to his futuro placo of rcsidonco
when no doubt, Bombay or Ceylon could bo arranged for him and asked “ if tho
tribes proposed to follow him there ?” It all petered out in talk and when even­
tually tho ovening beforo tho Majlis, Shaikhs Ilamad and Abdullah ordered the
Sunni representatives to attend t'\c Majlis which was hold in tho Agency, tho Sunnis
d;d, so I understand, go to Shaikh ’Isa to tako his orders on the subject. It is
reported that Shaikh ’Jsa replied to thorn that Shaikh Ilamad was his son, that he
had brought him up, that ho was his heir-apparent and that the tribes had better I
obey IPs orders, thus allowing an unexpected degree of acquiescence in the pro­
ceedings. I have already in my tolcgram No. 481, dated 29th May, given a brief
opitomo of what took placo at the Majlis and Appendix III to this Report gives, to
tho best of my recollection, tho speech I delivered thereat in English and in Arabic.
Shaikh Ilamad sat on my right and Captain Coleridge of H. M. S. “ Cyclamen **
on Shaikh Hamad’s right. On my left was the Political Agent and on his left
Shaikh Abdullah. Members of A 1-Khalifa family seated on chairs formed the
horns of the Assembly. A sprinkling of English residents or visitors to ilahruiu
were seated behind me on chairs and representatives of the communities in Bjfy/niin
seated on carpets formed the main body of the Majlis botween the two horns.
I judged the. number of persons to have been between 200 and 300 persons. Shaikh
Hamad’s address was first made. It had been prepared by the Political Agent in
close consultation with Shaikhs Ilamad and Abdullah. It was read with remark­
able facility and eloquence by Shaikh Muhammad-bin-Isu, the second brother and
poet of the family, and was so remarkably well read that even 1, a foreigner, did
not fail to appreciate and catch every word. Shaikh Mulmmmud, as was bis due,
received many compliments after the Majlis closed, on the clearness and emphasis
with which it was read. Shaikh Hamad’s speech with translation forms Appendix
IV to this Report. My own speech I delivered from scanty notes which were
bnrdlv looked at and 1 have not thought it advisable to delay this Report so as to
include the Arabic version which was read by the clerk of the Municipality at
Mnnnmeh and has been retained for the present by the Political Agent, Bahrain,
in order that copies may be made and distributed. It shall bo forwarded as soon
ns practicable for the information of Government with other documents referred
to here and there, not Appendices, in this report.
12. Throughout the proceedings I was careful not to fetter myself and warned |
Shaikh Hamad not to fetter himself by specifying detailed measures of reform, j
I have already telegraphed (Despatch No. 482, dated 29th May, to your address) j
the one measure of reform that presses most urgently, setting the Political Agentl
free to devote himself entirely to the guidance and strengthening of Shaikh Hamad.
1 formed a very favourable opinion of Major Daly whom I met for the first time at
Bahrain, l ie appears to me capable, zealous and energetic, with a good practical
experience and a good understanding of Arabs and their wavs. Above all, he
seems to have established a most complete and desirable ascendency over Shaikh
IJamad and a firm hold—though not of course the close friendship he has formed
with Hamad—-over the other brother, Abdullah, a very important peonage. If
we can secure this freedom for the Political Agent, of which I have endeavoured
with all the force at niv command, to show the desirability, I. think that the rest
will in great measure follow. We mnv hope, to retain Major Daly for another two
years without special leave and 1 will only remark in passing that it is by no means
unlikely that circumstances may involve occasional deputation of him to tlm
Sultan of Nejd on the business of II is Majesty’s Government and during such
absences which may perhaps be prolonged l regard it as of the highest importance
that BJijaJain should not be left without u good ’Englishman in charge, No Indian,
Arab or Persian Assistants will suffice. The man selcctod should be prepurod to
Btuy, learn Bahrain thoroughly and take Daly’s place when required either when
lie is absent on deputation or when lie eventually leaves Bahrain on leavo, as for
the good of the service he eventually must, probably about two years from’now.
It all depends on the selection mado now whether tho man can car n his own salary
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