Page 579 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

ADMN. REPORT OF TITE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOR 1910. 83
Towards the end of August, two leading pearl merchants of Kuwait,
Ibraliinl-bin-Madhaf and HftaFal-Umtairi arrived'in Bahrain with a fleet of
pearling boats with1 a View to settling here on account of alleged extortions by
Shaikh Mubarak. Ibrahim-bin-Madliaf was however induced to return to
Kuwait by Shaikh Salim-bin-Mubarak who called here in his father’s Steam
Launch “ Mhisrif.’/
Hilal Uratairi refused to return and, to all appearance, has decided to
settle in Bahrain for good.
The Agents of two Egyptian papers “ A1 Fatat” and “ A1 Muaraf, and
Bashir and Abdul Masih Antaki, editors of the Egyptian papers, “ Ar Raya
Athmania ” and “ A1 Amran,” visited Bahrain during the year, touting for
subscribers td fheir papers, but with little success.
‘ Dhafi and Faisal rebellious members of Bin Rashid’s family, with 30
followers visited Bahrain and were guests*of Shaikh Isa who gave them valu­
able* jDfesent^.
Rashid A1 Hazani, Headman of A1 Hazazinah of Hariq in Najd, came to
BahfaiVfrom Riadli Where'he had been imprisoned by Bin Saud for his com­
plicity'in various Vaid^ in Najd:' His release was effected by Shaikh Qasim-
bin-Muhammad-al-Thani paying 10,000 rials to Bin 'Saud. lie remained
With'Shaikh Isa as his'guest' for some days and theii went to Qatar.
Shaikh Abdullah-bin-IIamad, of the proscribed Al-Abdullah family of
Bahrain residing in !Hasa,'applied to the Chief for permission to settle in
Bahrain. * The Shaikh refused permission, as he is unwilling to see any mem­
bers of this family established -in Bahrain on account of their complicity in
the murder of Shaikh Isa’s father, Shaikh Ali. Shaikh Isa dismissed the
applicant with a, caslrpresent of Rs. J.50.
During the year under report one thousand and two civil cases and three
hundred and sixty-four criminal cases
Judicial.
have been disposed of. The decrease in
the number of civil cases is due to the'fact that the year has been a prosperous
one and the Nakhudas have made good profits on pearls.
As in last year, cases between Nakhudas and Divers have been tried by
the Sadi fa* Judge in the presence of a representative from the Agenov.
Where the Nakhuda cannot give a proper explanation of his accounts, the
matter is referred to the Head Qazi Shaikh Qasim-bin-Mahza and the oath is
administered.
Much credit is due to the Head Qazi for his management of these diffi­
cult and delicate cases and'he seems to be a great power for good and to do
his best’ to' cibtain a fair hearing for the divers. There does not seem to be
much chance of a real improvement in the settlement of these cases, unless the
Nakhudas themselves can-be induced to see that their own profits will be as
sured by a just and more lenient system. At present, their accounts are
closed yearly and they resent bitterly the examination of any accounts except
those of the year in which'the case is instituted.
Another very important matter, without which no progress can be made,
is the codification of the ’Urf or customary law which governs these cases.
Until we know what it actually is, it is impossible to amend it, so as to bring
it more into line with the requirements of civilization.
There arc two grievous complaints against the Nakhudas—
(1) that they work slaves and that, if the slaves arc given manumission
papers, these avail them nothing as they are promptly returned
to a state of slavery by the heavy claims brought against them on
account of “ghos” of which claims no examination is pos­
sible and which, mpst probably, contain items such as the pur­
chase of the slave himself, the purchase of a wife for him, the
expenses of his bringing up in his master’s house, perhaps from
early childhood, etc. Against these items there is no set off, such
as an equitable assessment of the wages due to him for bis work
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