Page 248 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

230 Records oj Bahrain

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ilonc by Lieutenant-Commimder Somorvillo of II. M. S. Jledbreatt who
during somo wocka spent hero on survoy nnd guard duty, had • obtained u
quantity ot detailed intornmtion nnd had prepared sketches of important sections
of tho islands which would have been most vuluablc had it boooino lioeosBary to
open hostilities.
• 0. In viow of tho faot that possession of Sheikh Ali's person was not
cllcolcd, tho moasuros taken can hardly be regarded as completely satisfactory,
but, on the other hand, it may perhaps bo considered that tho fact that Shoikh
Ali jins by bis flight to tho mainland plnocd himso'f under sontonco of coniploto
bnnishmont, is from souio points of viow a raoro convenient denouomont than an
alternative which would hnvo cutnilod our watering him and porhnps
maintaining him for somoyonra to come. At any rato, tho Shoikh of Bahrein
sooms to mo to hnvo boon thoroughly brought to his bonrings, whilo los-i of lifo
and local upheaval havobeou obviated. I trust, therefore, that on tho whole
tho Government of India will bo sntisQcd with tho measures taken, oven if tho
torms of tho ultimatum hnvo not boon completely fulfilled.
10. Sinco tho abovo paragraphs wore writton the truant Mullah, Shoikh
Ahmed, has roponted of his precipitate flight nnd surrendered himself. Tho delay
in hie return lms been duo to tho fact Mint ho had already roaohed tho mainland
of ICntr when hi? brother’s last mossago readied him. Sheikh Jnsim hna
accordingly boon allowed to disombark from tho Sjihirx and aftor interviewing
both brothers together in tbo prcscnco of Captain Pridoaux nnd reading them
a very frank homily on tho unsatisfactory oharnotor of their demeanour in tho
past and tho intonlion of tho Residency and of Government not to tolerate any
repetition of it in futuro, I liavo allowed them to go their way, after a friendly
expression of the hope, and the warning, that thoy should in future limit their
exertions to their rcoogniscd sphere and maintain tho friondly relations with
this Agency which they admit that our forbenrnneo has now inaugurated.
11. Before leaving Bahrein 1 liavo givon furthor consideration to lire
question of Shoikh JLlamod's detention. Tho conditions of it wore explained in
paragraph 6 above. Since tlion, granting the initial fact, or presumption, that
Sheikh Ali was allowed by him to escape, Sheikh lisa lms so far shown his desiro
to act in ncc»rd with tho wishes of Government by handing over his nephew's
bouse and property and by issuing tbo proclamations sot forth in the enclosures
to this report. Tlioro aro soverai questions connected with tire immediuto
futuro of the administration of government in Bahrein which it will be ne­
cessary to place before tbo Government, of India, and this I shall proceed to do
with us littlo dolay as possible ; nreanwhilo Sheikh Ilamcd's temporary detention
on board XI. M. S. Sphinx and the other incidents of tho lint few days
will, I hope, Irivo imbuod him with somo sonso of his own impolonco and tire
futility of imagining that he nnd his father can continue with impunity to
flout the wishes of the British Governmont, to whom indeed thoy owo every­
thing. I propose, thoreforo, after consulting Captain Pridoaux, to allo-v him to
return to tho shore before I leave Bahrein to-day.
12. Shoikh Esa has just visited me in order to liavo a final conversation
before my departure and wus evidently muoh rclievod, and gratoful, regarding
tho permission to Sheikh Efarnod to como ashore. I find his attitudo altogether
changed, and it is now rather that of a naughty child coming repentant before
his parents than that of a ruler of somo 70,000 souls who two months ago
6poko as orrogautly as if ho wore ready to defy tho British Governmont to
any extont. IIo said that ho was now entirely submissive to Govornraont nnd
that he and his children rccognisod that whon it oaruo to difficulties they had
no ono olso to look to. I ropliod that I. liopo bo would give proof of his assurances
in tho futuro and would look upon his Political Agont as bis host friend and
adviser.
Boforo taking lcavo ho prosentend mo with tho title-deeds of a plot of
ground adjoining tho Agency compound whioli I had told him wo neodod os a
eito for quarters for tho Infantry Guard and had asked him to acquire from tho
owners for us, but had intimated at tho same tirno that we-woro prepared to pay
any reasonable price for it. In handing over tho titlo-doed ho said that ho
would prefer to mako a freo gift of it to Government, an ofFor which, subject
to tho approval of Governmental accepted with thanks. It is probably worth
about 700 rupees.