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                             192                       Records oj Bahrain


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                                 Bubjeofc of tho rooont action of Shoikh Hamad's sorvant, lias Htatoil that ho dooa
                                 not rccognizo tho ouBtora of “ Suklira," oud that'lio cannot boliovo that' any ono
                                 of his rolativoa or oflloiftls would ovor contemplate improssing your coollos.
                                    I am hopoful that my lottor will have tho offcot of saving you from furthor
                                 annoyanoo on this point.
                                 Enclosuro No. 11.
                                  TranRlation of a lottor from tho Gorman Consul ot Bushiro, datod tho 10th Ootohor 1004, to
                                              Siirikh Iba. din Ali al Kimmvaii, Chief of Bahroiu.
                                    1 havo boon latoly informed that tho sorvants and coolies of Shoikh Ahmed
                                 bin Ali, your nophew, struok Mr. Bahnson, ft Gorman, in tho sorvioo of Horr R.
                                 Wonokhaus ftt Bahrein on tho hoad inflicting a sovorc out, but that up. to now
                                 you havo not punished tho culprits. I theroforo roquost you to onquiro into tho
                                 ivfloir with a view to oomponsnting Mr. Bahnson at an oarly dato aud punishing
                                 tho oflonders with a flogging boforo tho publio.

                                  Translation of Siieikh Isa’s roply, datod tho 7th Novomber 1004, to tho Gorman Consul at.
                                                            Bushiro.
                                    I rcooivcd your lottor, dated 19th October 1904, and loarnt that you havo
                                 boon informed of tho disputo botween my nophow; Ali bin Ahmed, and
                                 Mr. Bahnson, tho Gorman.
                                    I havo now to inform you that this mattor is beforo tho British Qovornmont
                                 and I oaunot say any thing on tho subject.

                                 Enolosuro No. 12.
                                 Extract from a letter No. 270, dated 17th November 1904, Jrom Captain
                                    JF. ' B. Psidbaux, Assistant Political Agent, Bahrein, to Major P. Z.
                                     Cox, C.I.E., Officiating PolHioal Resident in the Persian Gulf.
                                                                              • •
                                     To consolo himsolE for tho slight which ho considors put upon himsolf,
                                 Bheikh Ali has formed around bis poison a body-guard of big tnon, mostly negroes
                                 who nro a terror to all quietly disposed rosidonts in tho Bazaar and whom I
                                 boliovo no man.in tho Chief’s ontourngo daros touoh. Nearly all tho mon  who
                                 aro implicated in tho Bahnson nll'air havo now also takou part in this more
                                 recent caso. It may be that Shoikh Isa is unwilling to sco tho family dignity
                                 injured through tho punishment uvon of a nophow who is disloyal to himsolf,
                                 but I firmly boliovo now that my prcdccossor Mr. Gaskin's view .also is oorroct
                                 that tho Chief daro not attempt to orcrciso authority ovor Shoikh Ali.
                                     Tho fact that Shoikh Ali is disloyal at any rato in thought to his uncle is
                                 proved by his saying to mo when ho called at tho Agonoy to wolcomo my arrival
                                 that if ho had tho sliaro in tho Government, which his fathor hod hold, iio would
                                 bo happy to uso bis influence towards tho proper reformation of tho Customs
                                 administration.
                                     12.  I now have to mako tho following recommendations. In tho absonco
                                 of a British gunboot.it is cortaiu that no punitivo measures will bo submitted to
                                 by Shoikh A li and his gang either in tho Wonokhaus caso or tho prosont ono.
                                 I hope that as quiokly as possiblo a gunboat may bo sont boro, and, if possible,
                                 allowed to remain hero during tho month of Ramzan, as I am not too confident
                                 that oven tho Hindu community will bo safe much longer.
                                     13.  I think that on tho arrival of tho man-of-war Shoikh Ali should bo
                                  summonod on board with all his malo servants. Mr. Bahnson might bo invited
                                 on board ond asked to identify tho mon who woro oonoornod in tho assault on
                                 himsolf. All suoh who may bo known to havo takon part also in tho later
                                 aliair should bo soundly flogged on board, tbon sont to Mobarrag for ono year’s
                                 imprisonment and then orpollcd from tho islands, in tho ovont of security for
                                 good bohovlour not being forthcoming. I think suoh notion on our part aa
                                 this Is justified by tho Chiof’s weakness and aotivoly wrongful attitudo.
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