Page 89 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

RESIDENCY FOK THE YEAR 10051600. 7d
which about 400 cases are believed to have ooourred, with fatal results to fifty
per cent. The victim of greatest importance was Sharida-bin-Alij the Chiero
Confidential Olork.
Other persons who lost rolativo9 were Haji Moqbil-al-Dkikhair, fcbo
richest Arab merchant, Yusuf Kanow, honorary munshi and assistant to tho
Agency, and Abdul Aziz Ewasi, a rich Persian merchant.
A few oases also occurred nt soa amongst the pearling fleet. The epide­
mic subsided without the adoption of any remedial measures at theeommeno
ment of the hot weather.
Two European ladies, both wives of Doctors of the American Mission
Hospital, died of typhoid fever in Manama—Mrs..Thoms on the 25th April
1905, and Mrs. BenDctt on the 20th January 1808.
About a do/.en sepoys of the 125ih (Napier’s) Rifles belonging to the
Agency Guard at Manama have also shown signs at the commencement of
1906 of having contracted Beri-beri, though the cause is absolutely unknown.
Three sepoys unfortunately succumbed to the disease, but the others, with the
exception of two in Hospital at the close of the year, who it io hoped are
recovering, have returned to duty.
The Victoria Memorial Hospital, attached to the Aeenoy, w.*^j opened to
the public, though the buildings were not quite completed, on the arrival from
India of Assistant Surgeon Ghylam Ali Khan on the 13th July 1905. The
Hospital was again closed on the Assistant Surg<onfla resigning his appoint­
ment on the 21st December 1905 The appointment of another Medical
Officer has not yet been made.
The health of the Chief of Bahrain was good except for about two months
at the commencement of 1906. when he found considerable difficulty in shak­
ing olf the had effects -of a chill.
Political.—Tne political event of most importance in these islands was the Bafcraia.
surrender of Sheikh Ali-bin-Ahmad to his uncle, the Chief, on the ISth July
1905 with 4 absconded followers. The five prisoners were transferred to Hie
Majesty’s Ship Sphinx on the 31st July 1905, and in due course were sent
down to India v d Bushire in the Royal Indian Marine Ship
Sheikh All was sentenced to five year.s’ exile in Bombay under the supervision
of the Government that Presidency, and the four nesroea were confined in
the Central Jail, Hyderabad, Sind, for six months. They returned safely to
Bahrain on the 8th April 1903.
The relations between Sheikh Esa and the Political Agent have been
steadily though slowly improving throughout the year; the general situation
however is still somewhat unsatisfactory as the Chief is inclined, to regard all
advice tendered to him as attempting to undermine his internal abzoluto
sovereignty.
M ovements of the Chief and hia family.—Sheikh Es3 came over from
Muhamg to his summer quarters near Manama on the 2nd July and returned
to Muharrag on the 22nd November. He spent about 30 days in camp at
various times in the centre and southern parts of the island, and resided during
the rest of the year at Muharrag.
8heikhs Hamad and Muhammad bin Esa paid a 19-days* visit to
(Lus&il and Doha) in October 190S.
The former with his other brother Abdallah spent four days on the
Dtliaharan mainland in December, and about three weeks in December
January is tbs vicinity of Dingo.
Tin: Chief* W&zir and relative Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Ifnbab
his fifth pilgrimage to the Raj in the spring of 1908.
A good deni of light has been thrown daring the year upon the political Ketsr.
status oi this Peninsula, in the course of enquiries made in connection with the
Persian^ Gulf Gazetteer. It will suffice, however, hero to state tint the
resign ariem by Sheikh Jasm tun Thuai of the K&i m-makaro-ship of Doha has
never aj jarently been officiary accepted by the Tsxfchh Government, nor has
his abdication of the Chief ship of the Bin Thani Principality been folly given
effect to, even if in time* of sickness it has been seriousIt ©oatemnlkt^L