Page 332 - Records of Bahrain (5) (i)_Neat

320 Records of Bahrain

2.

the 31st January 1920, from the Acting Civil Commissioner in
Mcspotamia to tho Secretary to the Government of India in the
Foreign and Political Department, It will bo seen from this
letter that the Al Khalifah family first settled in Zubara
in 1766, that it was thenoo that they captured Bahrain in 1702,
that subsequently a member of the family (w* o was expelled

from Bahrain) rebuilt the town of Zubara in 1042, and that it
was not until about 1050 that the Al Thani (the present
ruling family of :1atar) rose to power in Zubara.
5. The representations of Shaikh Abdullah wore replied to
by the Government of India in their letter No.D.0.1145-E.A.

dated the 5th May 1920. As regards Zubara the reply stated
that the Government of India did not see their way to "permit
and assist" the Shaikh of Bahrain to open a port at Zubara.
From the use of the word "permit" I infer that this refusal
was tantamount to a deniul of the Shaikh of Bahrain’s claim
to Zubara. If therefore Hawar, from its proximity to the

mainland of Qatar (it is described at page 1513 of Volume II
of the Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf as lying 5 miles due
west of the point of Has Aburuk) is held to follow the owner­
ship of the mainland, it Y/ould fall under Qatar.
6. On the other hand, the Government of India's decision (if

it may be taken as such) referred to in my paragraph 5 above
did not specifically refer to Hav/ar, it is beyond doubt that
the Island has long been occupied by the Dowasir tribe of
Bahrain (vide paragraph 7 of letter No.207 dated tho 4th April
1909 from the Political Agent, Bahrain, to the Political
Resident, copy forwarded to the Government of India under the
latter's letter No.1043 dated the 2nd May 1909, and the

reference to the Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf quoted in
my paragraph 5 above), and it appears beyond doubt that
the/