Page 298 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

288 Records of Bahrain

^ 2. Later the Mussulman representative hero was roplacod for an
English one, who meddled himself with t he homo mutters, and arrogated
to himself the competency in what was no business of his, though ho was
ignorant of the religious law and customs of the Mussulmans. Here is
an example of what resulted of that.
A German morchnnt evinced contompt for one of my family's priuccs,
the Shaikh Ali, a son of my late brother Ahmad, and in some way ono
of my sons, married with my daughter. Then three men of war went
]j> J'yopf of |.hq Principality capital, for the sake of tlmt German
ipurcliqpt, ijpd staid therp ipany days, threatening and preparing for
hat'tlo'with us.; ',,’/• . •
3. Afterwards your representatives asked me for delivering my sop,
the Shaikh II ami id, to them, and I, for mv respect to Britain, delivered
him to them ; then they arrested him and kept him prisoner on |loar<f
of one of the vessols. * «. ..
4*. They seized upon the house of mine at which I had authorised tbo
Shaikh Ali to live in; they possessed themselves of nil his personal
properties, horses, thoroughbred camels, household goods, utensils, &c.;
they carried all that to Bushirc, Kuweit and Muscat, except a part which
burned.
5. As Shaikh Ali had lied lor fear, your representatives requested me
to proclaim order to arrest him, and I did so, not willingly but by
force.
0. On account of the quarrel which had happened between tbo
German and the Ali’s servants, your representatives ordered and
gathered a lino, and I must have got scourged violently the Shailc Ali’s
servants in presence of the Political Resident of the Persian Gulf
and the Political Assistant at Bahrain. Accordingly, that affair
was a settled one, when, at my amazement, happened tbo ovent
aforesaid.
7. When Shaikh Ali surrendered, asking for indulgence from the
gracious Imperial Government, he was arrested and is yet a
prisoner.
S. They threw down my ling mast, the sign of my rank.
9. After all that I wrote'to ,’your representatives that they stale to
tho gracious Government tho vexations I had sull'crcd; but no reply
reached me from them.
Accordingly I try to move your pity, and I request from your justice
and equity that you restore me in my previous quietness and content­
ment; for it is tho stato that suit you as well as us, and thereby your
reputation will bo retrieved among tho people of these countries.
I wrote this in two copies, ono of which I send to tho Vicoroy of
India, His Excellency Lord Miuto, and the other to tho Secretary of
Stato for India, His Excellency Mr. Brodrick.
All of us pray God iu behalf of Great Britain for ever. God save
you 1
Tho 3rd Sliaban 1323 ( = 2nd October 1905).
(Signed and sealed from) Issa din Ali At# Khalifa,
the ruler of Bahrain.

Enclosmo No. 2.
India Oflico to ICynoch, Limited.
India Office,
Sir, 22nd November 1005.
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Brodrick to acknowledge, with
an expression of his thanks, tho rccoipt of your letter of tho ldith