Page 187 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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philanthropic undertaking, this being the first occasion
for many years that a deliberate and definite distinction
had been made between Shias and other Arabs. On being
told by the Adviser that there was no objection to their

organising similar measures among their own community, and
being assured that in the matter of affording help the
Bahrain Government would treat Sunnis and Shias alike, they
collected immediately fis.7,000/-, and thereafter the rival
Committees vied with each other in collecting further

subscriptions. Since this rivalry seemed likely to promote
serious discord, efforts were made to bring the two parties
together and eventually, after much negotiation, a Joint
Committee was formed containing representatives of both

communities and presided over by His Highness* uncle,
Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa. On August 29th, to celebrate the
happy rapprocl^ent, a gi/aden party was given by one of the
Shia notables, which was attended by His Highness, the
Adviser, and members of both Sunni and Shia Committees.

(v) On September 4th it was reported from the Oil Camp
at Awali that some 200 migrant birds of unknown species
and enormous size had arrived, One had committed suicide

by flying into the Refinery and its carcase was sent to
Mr. Bertram Thomas, the Public Relations Officer, for
identification, It was pronounced to be a stork and a
tab round its leg read*-
UNIVERSITE KAUNAS LITHUANIA B
3973

The fact that the local '^habitants have no name for
these birds and that Bahrain notables went after them with
ggns, whereas in other parts of the Arab world they ere
never molested and are in places almost sacrosanct, suggests

that Bahrain has seldom, if ever, seen them before.
(continued)