Page 190 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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180 Records of Bahrain

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(3) That aftor tho above two conditions bad boon notually fufflllod 1
should soo Shoikli Ali in tbo prosonco of tho Ohiof and Captain
Pridenux and should warn him regarding his duparturo from
Bahrein ponding rcooipt of tho viows of Goverumont. I sug-
gostod his oithor going on pilgrimago to Mooca or on a visit to
Maskat, Lingah or Kowoit.
(«1) Shoikh Esa also agreed, if I so desired, to publish a notification
prohibiting tbo custom of "Sukhra" or “omploymont of
forced coolio labour” by tho potty Skoikhs of Babroin.
At thosnmo timo bo poiuted out that ho had already warnod thoso oon-
corned on tho subject, and that wo wero woloome to rogard it db an acocptcd
faol that ho did not recognizo tho praotioo in any way.
11. Boforo separating wo agrcod that it was of no usn our mooting again
until Sheikh Ali bad arrivod and until tho abovo conditions (1) and (2) had
been actually put into effect.
[Ao/e.—It was nccoeenry to dcoido hours of mooting a long whilo in odvanco oa inolo*
moot weather made communication botwoen Manama and Muharrag and botwcon tho Agonoy
and tbo pliipa oxcocdingly didioult and tedious all the timo I was thore and impodod our work
very much.]
12. Deoember 3rd.—Sheikh Ali did not roturn during tho day, but wo
board after dark that ho had just roturnod and was spending tho night with
the Cbiof at Muharrag.
December 4th.—About 8 a.m. a hag of Its. 1,000 was rccoivcd at tho
Agoncy by tho hand of one of tho Sheikh's mon. At 10 a.m. 8hoikh Esa,
acoompanied by -Shoikh Ali and his son, Shoikh Hamod, arrived from
Muharrag.
In spito of our ogroemont of 2nd instant that wo would not moot until
conditions (1) and (2) had beon fulflllod, thoy nil obtained ingress to tho
Agency Itocoption Room and sent word to mo that thoy had como and wanted
to soo mo. I sont Cnptnin Prideaux in to givo Shoikh Esa my complimonts
and to 6ay that tho compensation monoy, R**. 1,000, bad arrivod safely and I
wos much obliged for it, but that according to our provious ogreomont, tho
ringlcadors had to bo produced or oil Shoikh Ali’s sorvants paraded for identi­
fication beforo I could havo any furthor mooting with thomselvcs.
Captain Prideaux brought book tho roply that it was this quo6tion of tho
production of tho ringleaders that they wished to discuss with mo; they were
willing it appeared-to pay another Be. 1,000 jUSlicikh Ali'B.&oiyanfrs could bo
fparod. tbo corporal/punishment.
As this Rs. 1,000 would morely havo oome out of Shoikh Esa's pockot of
cour6o I remained obdurato, and was ovoutually informed that Sheikh Ali bod
goDo to tho town to colloothis men. A little later 4 culprits wero produced
and duly identified by Mr. Bahnson as having aotuolly participated in tho
assault on him. I may mention boro that, apart from bruises, the latter
received a very nasty wound on tbo head and narrowly oscaped having his skull
fractured.
The four men having been brought and identified Sheikh Esa asked permis­
sion to roturn to Muharrag as it was now getting Into and loft his son, Abdulla,
with instructions to havo tho ohat.tiscmont of tho mon oarriod out-in communi­
cation with mo. Boforo ho took bis departuro it was agreed botween us.that I
would Btart the inquiry into tbo Arab«Porsian affray caso tbo following m.orqing
and that ho would sond liis son or Vazior to ropresont him with instruotiona
to present boforo me any of bis subjoota whom I might wish to oxamino. .
Aftor his departuro tho matter of chastisement was proceeded with and
ovory possihlo obstruction was offered. Tho Shoikh’a Bazaar Master in
Manama who was tbo propor person to porform tbo operation, was sont for and
direoted to bring his canes and executioner. Ho absolutely rofuscdsoylng tbac
no canes could bo procured and that it was moro than ho dorod, to havo any
hand in .tbo punisbmont of Sheikh All’s men dirooFly or iritfircSTly.
Finally, I was obliged to sond to the Commander of His Majosty’s 81ifp
Redbreast for a weapon, pnd two Arab bystanders, or rotainers of his own
wore called upon by Sboik Abdulla to infliot tbo whipping.