Page 109 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat
P. 109

FOR TUB YEAR iPig.                      99
               ,ifal. The result of this and of the absence of other distractions in the form
             hosi
             f pnidcmics, is shown by an increase in attendance during 1912 as compared
             ° •th 1911. though the figures of attendance for 1910 have not been reached.
            JJJ. Actual figures are given below   __________________________

                          Year.                In-door.  Out-door.    ToUL



                                                   82       3,003
             1910                                                      4,075
            1911                                   31       3,051      3,032
                                                   37       3,0S8
             1912                                                      3,725
               ^he various questions of the Ageney Buildings, of the provision of Govern­
                                          ment quarters for the Clerks, and of the
                   Agency buildings, etc.
                                          provision of new quarters for the Post
            Office, received 1 consideration during the year. Lieutenant Townshend, R E.,
            of the Public Works Department, inspected the Agency building in June, and
            his report on its condition was highly unfavourable. In these circumstances it
            was useless to elaborate plans for the 2nd and 3rd items above, and the Politi­
            cal Resident referred the question of whether the Agency should be entirely
            rebuilt on the same or a different site, or merely he subjected to extensive
            repairs for the decision of the Government of India. The question is still
            under consideration, as the Government of India have called for plans and
            estimates for the new Ageney and subsidiary buildings before giving tlieir
            decision.
               In the meantime, a considerable plot of land contiguous with the Agencv
            CTOund on the west has been given to the Agency by Shaikh Isa. This will
            suffice for any new buildings which may eventually have to be erected.
               The detachment of the 7th Rajputs was relieved by one of the 2nd Bajputs
                                          on 11th November 1912, and left for
                     ;Sepoy Guard.
                                          Bombay on 25th November 1912.
                                            Shaikh Isa bin Ali enjoyed good health
                   Shaikh and Family.
                                          throughout the year, and so did his sons.
               Shaikh Hamad, the eldest, made his usual shooting trip to Lingah in the
            autumn.
               Shaikh Muhammad, the third son, made the pilgrimage to Mecca overland
            returning to Bahrain on the *2Sth December 1912 after an absence of three months.
            Shaikh Muhammad was most hospitably received by the Sharif of Mecca, and
            by other local potentates eu route. He appears to tave enjoyed the trip on the
            tfhole.
               It will be remembered that Khalifah bin Hamad bin Muhammad A1
                                          Klialifali, a disloyal relation of Shaikh Isa,
                 Shaikh Isa aud his RcU&iuxa.
                                          left Bahrain in September 1911 and made
            bh way to Constantinople to lodge complaints against the Shaikh of having
            appropriated his and lus father's property.
               In the present year he returned to Basrah, and it is understood that the
            j'j&li of Basrah, Hasan Reza, was instructed to interest himself in his case.
            The Mali showed his interest by addressing a series of impertinent letters to
            bbaikh Isa calling on him to accord fair treatment to his oppressed relations.
            Ibe first letter, winch was dated 13th April 1912, and subsequent ones, dated
            0th May and 20th June 1912, were shown by Shaikh Isa to the Political
            ijjeut. The latter strongly advised the Shaikh to take no notice of them, but
            paikh Isa insisted that his dignity would suffer if answers were not sent by
            pjgtt. and he accordingly made non-committal replies which he showed to the

            ^ The Political Agent kept the Residency informed, and Shaikh Isa’s letters
             ere ^nitten against the express advice of the Political Resident. The Shaikh
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