Page 34 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

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24 Records of Bahrain

No. 44, ilntcd Moliammorah, the 14th April 1898.
l-'rom—'W. McDouall, lisq., Ilcr Britnnnio Majesty's Vice-Consul, Moliammorali,
To—Tbo Polilic.il Rosidcul in Iho Persian Gulf.
With rcfcronco to tho memorandum forwarded in your No. 207 of 30th
ultimo, on tho subject of Bahrein, I have the honour to roport that tho succession
to tho Shoikhship, iu tho ease of important Arab tribes, to a great cxlont rests
Avith the groy-boards of tho tribe, and tho eldest and most capable member of tho
ruling family, as a rule, succeeds independently of any nomination by tholalo
Sheikh; but when a son has acted as his father’s deputy and proved his capabi­
lities ho is likely to succeed instead of an untried undo.
For oxamplo llaji Jabur became Sheikh of tho Muhaysin in succcsbiou
to Sheikh Yusuf, although tho latter had during his lifo-timo nominated another
member of his family as his successor, and apparently no objection was raised
during his life-time.
Uaji Jabur nominated tho late Sheikh Mizal to succeed him, and ho suc­
ceeded without difficulty, having proved himself a capable man.
If the grey-beards aro not unanimous, tribes on tho doath of a Sheikh
frequently divido, each section following tho Sheikh of tlioir choico, especially
among purely nomadic tribes.
In tho caso of potty tribes, whoso hoadmon or Shoikhs aro under a para­
mount Sheikh, as in tho caso of tho tribes of Mohammerak and Fcllahioh, on
tho death of a potty Sheikh tho paramount Sheikh appoints tho successor him­
self, and though ho generally appoints tho man ho knows will bo accoptablo,
ho does not invariably do so.
Iu tho caso of tho Atubi of Bahroin, a conquoring and foreign raco, thoro
may he special customs ; but probably all descendants of tho original conqueror
aro eligible.
If the proposed successor has been givon an opportunity of showing his
capabilities and has douo so to tho satisfaction of tho groy-boards of tho tribo,
his recognition would probably secure his succession ; but any enquiries would
liavo to be mado with groat caro as tho grey-beards would probably bo afraid
to commit thomsolvcs.

A reply to First Assistant Resident's request conveyed in his memorandum of the 1st April 1898,
In reply to tho memorandum on a request mado by tho Sheikh of Bahrein
for the recognition of his oldest son as his successor by tho Govorumont of
Iudia, I venture to put tho following views hoforo you
As far as I am aware, it is tho custom and practico amongst tho iudopon-
dont Aral) tribes to lcavo tho succession to a Sheikhship until after tho domiso
of a Sheikh, and tho ouo who is the most powerful among tho members of tho
ruling family and who has tho most supportors assuuios tho Sheikhship, over­
powering other claimants by force whero found necessary, which somotimos
results iu the extermination of a branch of tho family. But whero tho tribes
aro dependent on, or tributary to, another power for its pcacoful existence tho
nomination of a successor by tho paramount power is accepted, as in tho caso
of the tribes subject to, or under the, protection of Turkoy. Tho oldost son is
generally regarded as tho heir to a Sheikhship, if ho is strong enough to maintain
liis position on tho doath of his father. °
Jealousy has always oxjstcd between tho various branches of tho ruling
families of Bahrein, and will always exist no matter who succeeds to tho
Sheikhship. A provious recognition may tend to incrcaso tho existing jealousy,
but I am of an opinion that so long as it is publicly known that tho suc­
cessor has tho support of tho Government other claimants to tho Sheikhship
will not dare to altompt any opposition by forco oithor during tho lifo-timo or
aftor tho death of tho present Shoikh.
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