Page 78 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

68 Records of Bahrain

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0 To do this in the cheapest way for himsolf, ho granted a concession to
him to impori“«nSSi2»
A«guit isos. certain conditions. Tho Ynzicr, in return,
to supply tho Sheikh annually with 30 rifles and G,000 rounds of ammunition!
In the concession it is also stipulated that arms arc not to bo sold at Bahroin, or
on tho neighbouring Arab Coast, and it is also stated that it is liable to bo can-
colled on tho death of tho Vazicr, or whenever ho wishes to roturn it to tho
Sheikh.
7. Tho Yazier, who could not, presumably, work tho concession himsolf,
Tho v.ii.r MM, Land. .... th. immediately handed it over to Agha
toAght Moh»tr,rd iuhira, tbo Now«-Agoutat Bahrein Mohamed Hamm, a merchant m Bahrein,
to tbs British Rc.idoncj. who, 60m0 8jx yCftrs boforo, And obtained
Turkish nationality.
8, Mohamed Rahim is of Arab descent, but his family * have for many yoars
<
Poillion of Agha Mohamod Rabun, Britiih Nona* been Porsiau subjects, and liavo been con­
Agont at Bahrein. nected with tho .British Govornmont. Ho
• Vidt Family Tr*o attached.
acts as our Nows-Agent and channel of
communication with the Sheikh of Bahrein, and is supposed to look after
British interests thoro. Ho has tho reputation of being a well-to-do merchant,
and it would, I may say at once, bo difficult to get a man of his position to
carry on the duties ho performs on tho pay of tho post, R100 per mensem, if ho
was not allowed to trade. Mohamed Rahim and his prcdocessors no doubt
have only held it because it gave thorn prostige, and assisted thorn in their pri­
vate commercial undertakings.
,Tho Agent’s dual position is undoubtedly an unsatisfactory arrangemont,
and advantage has. been taken of it by Messrs. Tracis Times to assert that
they wore dealing with the British representative at Bahroin whon thoy obtainod
« tho oonccBsiou, and, again, that tho British .roprosontntivo had induced tho
Shoikh to act as ho did, when, in reality, Mohamed Rahim was roally acting in
his private capacity as a privato individual and merchant.
It will, however, bo difficult to get a trustworthy agent of this class, or
one who will not use the influence the position gives him to forward his own
! Opinion that»r<gui«r European repreienutiro i* interests, and I cortainly think wo ought
»orj dcurabie for Bthrtin nod the Amb Coait, to knvo an Englishman as our represent-
ativo for Bahrein and tho Arab Coast.
9. Mohamed Rahim, having obtained tho concession from tho Vazier,
Agha Mohamed Rahim hand* on tho conccuion to OntOl'Cd into arrangements with tllO Firm
cun. Fracli Times. 0f ]^ogs,.g< praojg Tim OS & Co., with wllOin
ho had previously had businoss relations.
10. Tho Firm then started briuging arms to Bahrein, from which place
thoy were sold to tradors from various parts of tho Gulf. Agha Mohnraod
Rahim was made tho Bahroin Agent of
Traffic in armi how carried on.
t s*° lUtemonii of Mohamod Rahim and hi* tho Firm t and was to get half tlio profits,
nephew, Mohamed Kbaleel. oycr tho amount 0f the80 profits that
tue parties have fallen out. That is, over tho numbor of guns, eto., sold, and
tho pnoes realisod. Mohamed Rahim was assisted in tho salos by bis nephow,
Mohamed Kualeel, and Fracis Times woro also represented by omployds of
their own, who appear to liavo watched the sales on their behalf, and sometimes
to have sold tho rifles thcmsolves.
11. Payments were made, as a rulo, direct to Mohamed Rahim, except
vtrorlr;flFripuroLaB8"I"CTf.aIei8d,°i't
weapon8°thcro^ ^ 1?irm to takc mon°y at Bu8hirei but not to dclivor tho
i
nn i“-Th..C,a80f ,‘bo Sun3 woro liandod ovor at Bahroin by the Agont
" °*tbo delivery order, and thoro is littlo doubt that tho nrrangomont
? «vad0 tho prohibition again8t tl.o importation .£ arms into
llahZ’lT . Porsian offloial8 gave rise to difficulties. Mohamod
Jthor places8 n PoS y WCt° takcn to Tobori- LinSab- Bundor Ab