Page 107 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British interests and influence, 1898-1904 97
31

but to tlio onomios of tbo Chief of Bahrein, This free smuggling brought no
profit to tho Oliiof of Bahrein by way of rovonuo, and what rovonuo ho derived
from this source was little or nothing. Whon the Zobara affairs occurrod, tho
Ohiof was in noed of somo arms for his own protection and that of tho town,
and with groat difficulties lie was able to sccuro somo in which I had to help
him. Ho then felt tho necessity of finding out somo way by which ho can
socuro samo. He afterwards consulted his Vazicr, Abdur Rahman-bin-Abdul
Wahab, for arranging for tho importation of arms in such a way that smuggling
might bo prevented successfully so as to bring him moro revenue by way of duty,
and at tho samo timo, it might also bo tho means of putting him in possession
of somo arms for protection of tho town. His Vnzior Abdur Rahman-bin-
Abdul Wahab callod on mo and conveyed to mo the Chiof’s viows on the
subject, informing mo at the samo timo that somo of tho Banian traders of
Bahroin, as woll somo parties in Bushire, wish to come to somo arrangoment
with tho Chief, while somo wauting concossion for samo, but tho Oliiof wishes
to make arrangements with some one in whom ho has confidence, so as to
provent smuggling successfully and at tho samo timo to bo suro of tho arms
not passing into tho hands of his enomics as woll as tho inhabitants of Bahrein, !;i
and he would like mo to holp him in the matter by undertaking the arrange­
ment myself. I exprcBsod my willingnoss to help him. Both the Chief and
his Vazicr again broached to me the subjoct of this arraugoment. I told thorn
to draw up an arrangement as it is montionod in tho concession, as per enclosed
copy marked A. The Chief wroto it out iu the name of his Vazior Abdur i
ltahman-bin-Abdul Wahab who transferred it to me. I thon arranged with
Mossrs. Fracis Times & Co. for importing arms. I appointed somo persons to
manage this busiuoss and for soiling them ouly to foreigners as mentioned in I
tho concession. Aftor this business was going on for somo time, tho Chief camo
to know that smuggling was still going on, aud he thcroforo thought it advisablo
to issue a notification prohibiting his own aud foreign subjects aud imposing a
duty of 25 per cent, on all importations by British subjects, whilo Messrs.
Fracis Times & Co. are importing on tho strength of this concossion.
With reference to your enquiry why I have uot reported this to tho Resi­
dency, I beg to 6ny that as concessions and monopolies are grantod by tho
Chief from timo to time, such as the farming of Bahroin customs, tho farming
of customs for shells, shark’s fins, and hides and skins, the salo of cattle, tho
sale of skins and hides, lotting caravan-serais and ware-houses, and the produce
of gardens, etc., otc., which arc and have boon never reported to tho Residency,
being commercial transactions, I never thought I was doing anything wrong in
not reporting this concession to the Residency. Both Colonel Wilson and Mr.
Gaskin know all about this concession.
Bosidos, if you look at tho date of tho concession, namely, the month of
Saffar=August 1805, and that of the letter respecting tho notification, which was
6th Shaban=25th Jauuary 189G, you will find that tho concession was granted
'six months boforc the notification, which lattor I roported simply bccauso the
Chief of Bahroiu desired me to do so, as stated in my letter No. 13 of 2ud
February 1806.

Dntod BuGhiro, tho 8th July 1800.
From—Mb68R8. Fracis Times & Co.,
To—Capiain C. Dcoat, l'irst Assistant to tho Politioal Rosidout, Persian Gulf.
We beg to inform you that our Mr. Fracis is proposing to proceed to
Bahrein by the next mail loaving on tbo 11th instant, to inspect tho work and
accounts of our agonoy there, and, if it be found necessary, to establish thore a
branch of our own. But as this undertaking could not bo well carried out
without tho asBistanoo and support of tho Ohiof of Bahroin, wo should bo rauoh
obliged if you would kindly vooommend our firm to the good offioos of tho
Ohiof with a view to any assistance, which may be requirod in tho way of pro-
curing promises, oto., boing afforded. J
An opon lottor of recommendation in any sonso you may doom nronor will
wiUkXdly falour our ^t0 re<1U°8t tbat