Page 701 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

99 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF

Sbp.ikh Isa was informed and asked to make enquiries. He at once
stopped tho icsuo of the certificates, probably without enquiry.
From subsequent investigations it appeared that in no case was 22 per
cent, charged, but that the Bahrain certificates enabled goods of genuine
Bahrain origin (chiefly lucerne seed) to be imported into Turkish territory
free of duty. As this pointed to an assumption on the part of the Turks
that Bahrain was a Turkish Province, Shaikh Isa was again informed and
advised to maintain his prohibition of the issue of certificates. This he
promised to do.
At no time has the matter come up in a practical form, i.e.t as a subject
of oomplaint or petition on the part of traders or boatmen.
According to all reports received, no Turkish garrison has been stationed
_ .. . . on the island during the year. The
numy Dosiris there at tho end of the year were
on occasions hoisting Shaikh Isa’s flag, otherwise no Lown.
At the instance of His Britannic Majesty’s Political Resident, Shaikh
Isa was invited to subscribe to an agree­
Foreign Post Office*.
ment, not to permit any Foreign Gov­
ernment to establish a Post Office in Bahrain. Should any Power press for
permission, we should then be in a position to support him. The Shaikh
could not be induced to give such an undertaking, but he promised (in a
loiter dated 4th September 1911) that should any such proposal be*made, he
would say that he had so pledged himself, and would at once inform and
consult us.
In the middle of July, Shaikh Mubarak-bin-Sabah,. Ruler of Kuwait,
paid a few days’ visit to Bahrain, and
Sh&ikb Ilabarak'o visit.
was received as a distinguished guest by
Shaikh lea. The motive of the visit was probably to coau back into his fold
his errant subject Eillal-al-Mutairi. At any rate he accomplished this.
Hillal stayed on until the close of the pearling season and then departed
with his household goods and rather a dubious heart, for Kuwait.
Shaikh Mubarak wc3 credited with counselling Shaikh Isa to put his
house in order and become more efficient, sd that he might be les3 open to
fault-finding by the British Government and so less subject to its influence.
I
But it is to be feared that neither Shaikh Mubaraks nor Political Agents will
ever make Shaikh Isa into a model ruler, or stir him very far out of his
accustomed rut.
The small group of some 100 households living in a suburb of Doha in
__ Kate took umbrage at an increase in the
amount of their taxes demanded by
Shaikh Kasim-bin-Thani and his son Shaikh Abdullah, and accordingly
determined to follow the example of the Al-bu-’Ainain and emigrate.
They aproached Shaikh Isa with a view to seeing whether they would be
provided with any asylum in Bahrain, Shaikh Isa offered them no en­
couragement, and they subsequently, in November, quitted Kafcr and settled
in Turkish territory at Darin.
Shaikh Isa’s attitude can be commended on general grounds. Until
agriculture or some other industry than that of pearl-fishing ia introduced
into Bahrain, an increase of the population is to be deprecated. In the
present case no very likely source of strength or advancement has been lost to

The Al-bn-'Ainain, who in 1910 abandoned Wakra in Katr and settled
Th. AMra-'Aiuin. at Kasr-as-Snbaih, spent last year in
. . t ooquettmg with the Turkish author­
ities and with Shaikh Mubarak of Kuwait. The latter, who claims jurisdic­
tion over Kasr-as-Subaih, promised his protection if the AI-bu-’Ainain ceased
to have dealings with the Turks. They have not.
They have not, however, taken advantage
of the offer, and reports have been repeatedly reoeived that the Turkish
authorities in Hasa nave Dromised to Drotect them, and are medital
ave promised to protect them, and are meditating post-
mg troops and hoisting their flag at Kasr-as-Subaik. i