Page 366 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

782 Records of Bahrain

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APPENDIX I TO REPORT ON BAHRAIN REFORMS.
Memorandum No. -C., doled 13lh May 1923, from the Political Agent, Bahrain,
to the Uon'blc the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire.
In continuation of my No. GG-C., although the Najdis had ostensibly mado
peace with the Persians, fresh disturbances on a larger scale broke out on tho
morning of the 10th. Abdulla Qosaibi end Mohamed Shorif arrived in tho
Agency with the following story, over which they both agreed : A boy in tho
service of Qosaibi was said to have stolen a broken watch from his houso ; another
servant reported to Qosaibi that he had seen it exposed for sale in tho shop of
a Persian, and had demanded that it should be handed back. The Persian replied
that lie had bought it from the boy for Re. 1, having no reason to suspect that it had
been stolen, and had paid Rs. 2 for its repair. He would return it if lie were paid
his out-of-pocket expenses. Abdulla Qosaibi then went himself with two Najdis
to the shop, and demanded the return of the watch without payment. A contro­
versy ensued, and Qosaib/ compelled the shopkeeper to go with him to Mohamed
Sherif. It is said that lie was roughly handled by Qosaibi’s men. Mohamed
Sherif endeavoured to placate the Persian and himself paid the Rs. 3 demanded.
Qosaibi left, the matter being apparently settled. Very shortly after, the two
Persians arrived at Mohamed Sherifs office bleeding profusely from dagger wounds,
which, they said, had been inflicted by two Najdis. Mahomed Sherif, fearing to
send them through the bazaar in their wounded state, sent word to Qosaibi asking
him to come and see them. On Qosaibi’s arrival lie pointed out that the matter
was likely to he a more serious one than they could themselves settle and requested
Qosaibi to send the Najdis to the Agency, while lie would order the Persians to do
likewise, and get the matter settled by the Political Agent. Qosaibi suggested
that they should first make their own enquiries and during the delay the whole
bazaar flared up, and i\ general fight ensued between Najdis and Persians. Qosaibi
and Mahomed Sheri i line to the Agency by a round about way to avoid the fight.
Mahomed Sherif asked for the assistance of the Agency Guard to quell the dis­
turbance. This equast 1 felt unable to comply with, as I thought the use of the
Agency detachment at a moment when the light was actually in progress, might
well force a situation, the result of which could not be foreseen. I endeavoured to
persuade Mahomed Sherif and Qosaibi to come with me to the bazaar to use their
influence with their respective parties. Qosaibi however was uncontrollably
excited, and bitter against the Persians whom lie accused of having collected
heavily armed. He admitted that the first signs of the actual disturbance lie
had seen were the two wounded Persians. Meanwhile Yusuf ICanoo arrived by
Mr. Mciklc of ‘ Mespers ’. He stated that the allray had grown serious and suggest­
ed the use of the Agency troops in the bazaar. I declined on the grounds above
stated. Having however ascertained that there was no crowd between the Agency
and Messrs. ‘ Mespers * office, which is well away from thp bazaar, and therefore
no likelihood of a collision, I left orders for the Guard to march there but to take no
action of" any sort.' I caused Yusuf ICanoo to despatch several people to t.he
bazaar to spread the news that the troops were coming. I then proceeded to the
bazaar myself, by car. Qosaibi .declined to accompany me, ana fearing that it
would give a false impression if I took with me only the leader of the Persians, I went
accompanied by Yusuf Kanoo and a Qatar merchant. On arrival I found the
actual fighting had ceased, doubtless as a result of the news that troops had left the
Agency. The bazaar was full of excited Najdis, armed with lathis and some with
swords. daggers and firearms. At first no Persians were to be seen, but later a few
who lived on the spot oume out of their buildings. I proceeded to collect sticks,
etc., from the crowd and to disperse them as far as possible. When it was clear
that the situation was in hand and a collision was very improbable, I sent word to
.the Guard who were at Messrs. Mespers, to march with mo through the bazaar, and
then sent them back to the Agency. Shortly after, Qosaibi arrived with a crowd of
Nftjdis. Meanwhile Mr. Mackic had appeared from Yusuf Kanoo's house. He
assisted me to cause the dead and wounded to be removed, which I was anxious to
do early, lest their presence should cause a further outbreak. We caused to be
removed two dead Persians and one. Najdi, and two Persians and one Najdi who were
still jupt breathing. A number of wounded who could walk were sent to hospital.
During these proceedings Qosaibi was beside himself with rage against the Persians,
making a fresn scene as each injured Najdi was discovered. His behaviour unduly