Page 503 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910. 9
The details of the regrettable affair, resulting in the loss of valuable lives,
arc recorded in the report of the Tjrucial Coast, and it is unnecessary to do
more than touch upon it here.
The Government of India were pleased to decide that, with the payment
of 50,000 rupees fine and the delivery of the 400 rifles, the incident should bo
considered closed for the present, and that the other measures suggested by
His Excellency the Naval Commandcr-in-Chief and the Resident should re­
main in abeyance for possible reconsideration when the position on the Coast
had returned to normal, and the full effect of the incident on the public mind
could be gauged. In any case, it is recognised that the strengthening of our
control over the Trucial Coast is becoming a matter of increasing cogency,
and the question will shortly be resubmitted, for the wise consideration of
Government.
The course of the Abu Musa case made no advance during the year.
When the Resident left London, in Feb-
ar -ruary 1910, after the receipt by His
Majesty’s Foreign Office of the German rejoinder, a suggestion for the offer
of a commercial compromise was under consideration, and it was expected
would be adopted; but His Majesty’s Government decided that it was neces­
sary also to collect evidence for a reply to the fresh German arguments, and
as this meant three or four weeks’ absence from Bushire, it was not possible
for the Resident to undertake the duty until after the close of the year under
report.
The climate of Bahrain seems to generate a tendency to litigation, and the
number of civil suits brought to the
a a“' Bahrain Agency is most startling when
compared with the case-work appertaining to our Agencies at other Gulf
Ports. The Salifa (or pearling) cases are likely to present a good deal of diffi­
culty in the future as it is so difficult to arrive at any specific code of law in
regard to them.
The cargo-landing arrangements at Bahrain have been a source of fre­
quent worry both to the Political Agent and the Shaikh and the Residency.
The utmost patience has been exercised in order to induce or enable Shaikh
Isa to arrive without coercion from Government, at some just mean of com­
promise, which we can regard as meeting the reasonable requirements of the
trading community.
Qatar affairs call for little remark except that the promontory appears
to be becoming a base for the distribution of contraband arms, and this deve­
lopment may oblige us to reconsider the question of our relations with the
Thani family.
It is interesting to note that British traders arc turning their attention
again to the trade of Qatif—now eschewed by them for a good many years.
Shaikh Mubarak’s rule continues to be the most sturdy and effective of
any potentate in the Gulf, but, no doubt,
Ean-aiL
he strains the long sufferings of his sub­
jects from time to time with his heavy exactions. One test of the efficiency of
his rule, however, is seen in the facility with which he can absent himself
from Kuwait at frequent intervals without any inconvenient result. Like the
Shaikh of Mohammcrah his prestige and influence with the tribes and the
Chiefs of the interior have been greatly enhanced by their knowledge of his
close relations with the British Government.
The political events of Central Arabia have been much on the same lines
as usual but a notable event was the appearance of the Sharif of Mecca in
Najd. He probably undertook his mission in collusion with the Turkish
authorities and had some temporary success, in that he obtained certain
nominal undertakings from Bin Saud; given in order to effect the release of
observed S br°ther’ wh°m the Sharif had caPtured» and most unlikely to be

The expedition undertaken by Shaik Mubarak in concert with Bin Saud
Wlth the object of brushing Shaikh Saadun of the Muntafik had most disaster-
ous results, and Shaik Mubarak suffered heavy loss in men, camels and arms,
the burden of which fell mainly on the inhabitants of Kuwait.