Page 259 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

British influence and foreign interests, 1904-1906 249

M<lfiama
surve yor told me that he had that day met a party on the road between Manama
and Rufaa, escorting a lady who was, so hia coolies told hi«n( the Manama wife
o( Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed.
« On the morning of the 39th I sent my two Munshis, Uaji Abbas and
Abdul Rasul, out respectively 10 Budeya and Rufaa to endeavour to get reliable
information. Before their return I was vntted, first, bv the religious leader
of the Hindu community, a man who has spent 50 years of his life here—who said
that Manama town was full of Bedouin and that the Bunmahs were apprehensive
of trouble, and, secondly, by Mr. Bahnson of the German firm who said that
hi* employes and clients were also commenting on the same fact. Commander
Somerville, R.N., and I accordingly went into the Bazaar and walked through
all the principal streets, with the result that though we found a large number of
foreign Arabs in it, we came to the conclusion that no danger was to be antici­
pated from them as they were not armed and looked more like beggars than
anything else. Both my Munshis returned, having seen or heard nothing
alarming, and Haji Abbas remarked that the advent of some aoo or 300 beggars
from Ncjd at this season is an annual occurrence, they coming as soon as
possible after the icth day of Mohurram to collect " zikat " or charitable con­
tributions for the year from all the wealthy merchants of the place. The notice
taken by the Bunmahs and others this year of this ordinary matter is only one of
several incidents showing the uneasiness felt in consequence of recent events.
4. Yesterday Sheikh Isa returned from his camp to Muharrak. I at once
wrote him a letter mentioning the rumours that were rife, remarking that he had
given me no information whatsoever about Sheikh Ali's movements since his
night 34 days ago, and asking him now to tell me all he knew, not only as to
tho Sheikh's present whereabouts, but also about the manner of his flight and his
probable future intentions.
5. Tho Chief promptly wrote back that the rumours about Sheikh Ali's
return to Bahrein were absolutely false and that he was still with the Bedouin ift
the interior of Katar.
Me gave no information about the method of the Sheikh's departure,
6. This morning I have received a letter from the Chief enclosing two
received by him from Sheikh Ali, one to his own address and one to mine.
Translations are appended.
7. The rumour in the Bazaar to which I attach most credence is that when
Sheikh Ali joined Sheikh Ali A1 Thani and his brother in Katar, he was told
that he could not be allowed to slay with them permanently, and accordingly
after the lapse of a few days he went on to the Nayim tribe, who arc all on the
best of terms with Sheikh Isa and whose two head Sheikhs draw regular salaries
from the Bahrein revenues.
8. It is possible that Ali has not come to Bahrein, but considering the
points mentioned in this letter, coupled with the fact that on the afternoon of the
a8th instant I was visited by the two leading merchants of Bahrein, who in the
course of conversation on various subjects asked me if I would care for their
assistance in getting Sheikh Ali to surrender, and the rapidity with which to*day's
proposition has followed on the Chief's return, I cannot help personally thinking
that the report of Sheikh Ali's return, temporary or othcrwise.’is correct. l am
making further-efforts to arrive at the truth, and hope for the Chief's sake that
the rumour is false.
he 5houldVbeheWcnrad„,c°aHyeikh Ali'S PClUi°n ‘° mC U SCCmS ^ de5'Cable tha‘
answer.

«£» & £
persons whose surrender 13 required by Government.
•man Tf‘‘.nK that Sheikh Ali can do is to surrender himself fo a British
Em.:? " “S 33 P°»ibl<=- Thi. is the only reply that can bemadbio