Page 31 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

Death of Shaikh Ilamad bin ‘Isa, 1942 19

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at Manamah and at Sakhir. He usod to lover himself

with both arms when rising from the ohair. He never
diBOUssed this matter but it was commented on by his
servants. After he died his household servants said
that twice before ho had attacks which roducod him to
a state of unconsciousness for a 3hort time but those
incidents were not made public at tho time and consi­

derable vagueness exists as to their dates, On the
whole, considering his physical liabilities his general
health hod been well maintained. His heart however
always required careful watohing, and during the last
six months its condition had been slowly and insidiously
showing signs of strain.
On Monday 16th February 1942 tho annual celebra­

tion of the anniversary of Shaikh Hamad's accession day
was held, owing to the war the only public event was a
ceremonial parade of the state forces in front of the
palace. On the previous day Shaikh Hamad dlscussod

tho programme with me and said that as ho found that
walking tired him so much he did not Intend to pass
down the lines but would remain seatod throughout the
parade. Ho had been suffering for somo days from a
swollen rheumatio ankle and though Dr. Snow and I per­
sonally a9ked him to keep his leg resting on a chair
ho noglocted the advice and twice during the few days

boforo the parade I found him sitting in the gate room
at Sakhir not resting his log.
The parade was held on Monday 16th. Various
people commented on tho faot that Shaikh Hamad did not
look well. When it was over he drove back to Rumaitha
where he was staying for some days in order to enjoy
the results of the reoent rain. Rumaitha is a little

valley in tho high country towards the south end of
the