Page 479 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER X.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR BAHRAIN FOR THE YEAR 1909-

Perhaps the most i'mportant incident of the year was the writing of a
letter by Shaikh Esa to the Political
Political.
Agent to the effect that he desired the
British Government to exercise jurisdiction over foreigners. Although in
practice this was no new departure, yet such general jurisdiction had not
been formally arranged. *
In March a report was received that the Turks had annexed the island
“ Zakhnunivah,” which belongs to the Chief of Bahrain and is used exten­
sively by the Dowasir tribe as a fishing head-quarters in the winter months.
The island is practically a desert and cannot well be inhabited during the hot
weather. A fort was built on the island by Shaikh Ali, the father of the
present Shaikh of Bahrain, but it is now in ruins. The Political Agent
visited the island in April and found that the report of the Turkish attempt­
ing to annex it was correct, and they had actually hoisted their flag on the old
flagstaff.
Later on some Turkish soldiers were sent there but were involved in
difficulties with the Bedouin who wished to steal their rifles.
Representations as regards the soldiers and the flag were made to the
Porte and the troops were withdrawn, after they had built a small house
and had repaired the platform of the flagstaff. When the Dowasir went
again to take up their winter quarters, early in November 1909, it was reported
that a few Turkish soldiers were there, but that they left shortly after. As
the Porte had assured His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople that the
Wali of Basrah had issued orders, in June, for the withdrawal of the soldiers
to Oiair. it. would appear that either this was never actually done or else the
orders must have been lost owing to the frequent changes of Walis and
Mutassarifs.
Shaikh Esa was exceedingly pleased by the honour conferred on him
and his eldest son, in that his salute was increased from 5 to 11 guns on
official visits to British men-of-war, and a salute of 3 guns was granted to
his eldest son iShaikh Hamad when paying an official call in place of his
father. No opportunity has yet occurred to permit of the salute being fired
as the only men-of-war that have come to the port have not stayed long
enough for any visits between the Commanders and Shaikh Esa.
A sign of the good feeling at present existing in the island was demon­
strated by Shaikh Esa and many of the leading merchants respectively send­
ing telegrams of congratulation to His Majesty the King on the occasion of
his birthday. I believe that this is the first time an event of this description
has occurred in the annals of Bahrain.
Shaikh Jasim-bin-Thani, Chief of Katr, came to Bahrain on the 10th'
November and stayed for ten days. He was naturally the guest of Shaikh
Esa, but the latter did not accord the generous hospitality usual among Arab
Chiefs, and did not appear to do more for the honour of his guest than was
absolutely necessary. For instance, he had no one to meet him on arrival
though the date was well known: the house he appointed for Shaikh Jasim
was not the best available. Other lesser instances of ignorance of “ savoir
faire ” were also evidenced, and this negligence was perhaps the more extra­
ordinary as Shaikh Jasim had not visited Bahrain for some seventeen years.
The Political Agent was fortunate enough to be present at the time of
Shaikh Jasim's arrival at Shaikh Esa’s house, and the meeting between the
two old Chiefs, aged respectively 62 a^d 87, was well worth witnessing.
Shaikh Esa’s manner was not very cordial, and he appeared less at ease than
did Shaikh Jasim, who is a much more imposing personage. The want of