Page 192 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

182 Records of Bahrain

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Enolosuro No. 1.
No. 225, dalod tho 1st October 1904.
From—J. C. Oasxih, F.iq., AM»Unt Political Agont, Babroin,
To—Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Officiating Political Rciident in tlio Perainn Gulf.
I hnvo (bo honour to forward, for your information, oopy of a letter, dated
tho 20th September 1004, I hnvo received from Herr TVonckhnus, regarding
nn outrnpo committed by Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed and bio followers in tho
Gorman firm’s promises on Thunday last.
I would venturo to report that immediately on tho receipt of information
I proceeded to the sccno of tho outrage and interrogated tho members of tho
German firm’s staff concerned in the matter and found tho main facts to bo
as sot forth in tho nbovo-quoted communication. :
I caused Sheikh Ali to appear beforo me to oxplain bis conduot. Ho
stated that by liif orders his servant went out to 6ecuro a coolio for his sorvico
and when he got hold of one, the German’s nativo olerk assaulted his servant
with a slick and inflicted several contusions on the man’s body and bad drawn
blood, also ho produced a broken cano alleged to liavo been employed by
tho olerk.
Tho man was produced and upon examination no traces of assault woro
visible and the stick was admitted to belong to Sheikh Ali’s man, but evidently
a sculllo had taken place and tho clerk had wrenched tho stick from Shoikh
Ali’s man and made use of it. '1 ho man, however, appears to liavo boon tho
aggressor by seizing hold of tho clerk by tho throat and tho latter dofended
himsolf in tho best way ho could.
Sheikh Ali’s man apparently look an exaggerated story to his mastor
vrhoreupon tho latter sont after the native olerk to appear boforo him, but boing
occupied with tho firm’s business ho informed tho 8heikh’s messenger that
he would go to him later on. 8hcikh Ali evidently took umbrage at tho roply
and proceeded with a number of followers to the German’s house and meeting
tho clork in tho hall asked him if he had struck his servant, and on receiving
a reply in tho affirmative ho struck tho clerk 6omo blows on tho left sido of tho
nock. Tho Sheikh’s followers at tho 6amo time soized another coolie on tho
premises and started biding him with sticks and Mr. JJalinson, an Assistant to
Herr Wonckhnus, bearing tho noiso wont- below and in the attompt to extrioato
tho coolio, received soveral blows about his person and bend, ono of which
inflicted a cut u littlo oYor inohes long oxposing tho scalp and causing tho
loss of a quantity of blood.
Whon questioned 8huikh Ali at first donied having struck the olork, but
whon confronted with him ho acknowledged having donoso. Further, ho mado
no attompt to stop his followers from assaulting the coolio on tho premises
whon asked to do so by Mr. liahnson, and when tbo lattor endeavoured to pro-
toet tbo coolio, Sheikh Ali triod to stop him from reaching tho ooolio.
Under ordinary circumstances the incident would not havo been considered
so serious. But tbo conditions provoiling in Bahrein aro such op to necessitato
tho adoption of oxtremo measures for tho suppression of similar ocourroncca
which othorwiso may jeopardize tho lives of Europeans and their omployda
should they bo rcpcotod.
I havo boon obliged to bring to tho notico of tho Chiof tbeinterforonco of
Ids mon and tho attendants of tho petty 8hcikbs with persons in tho sorvico of
tho British and Gorman firms here on several occosions, and though tbo Chief
haewarnci. tbo petty Sheikhs accordingly, thoy do not appear to pay any heod

Unless tbo sorvanU aro effcotually protected from molestation tho firms
will find thoir oroployfc dcsorting thorn to tbo detriment of tboir business
gonorally.
I bavo considered it my duty to put tlio ooeo boforo tho Ohiof atrongly
and dumanded tlio punisbmont and expulsion of tliamon who woro ooncornod
in tho oulrogo also a fine of Us. l.OaO. Tho Ohiofisaid ho would onquiro into
tbo mnttor and communioato with mo lator. I trust that you will approvo of
my action.