Page 800 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

66 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE

irritation in a number of petty ways, chiefly by trying to persuade
some of the ignorant foreigners to take their cases and complaints
to Sheikh Isa and his officials till at last the Sheikh was reminded
of the decision that his jurisdiction was limited to natives of
Bahrain, while all foreigners including Arabs from the neigh­
bouring districts were under the Political Agent’s jurisdiction as
British protected persons. Since then (November) there has
been no more attempt of this kind on the part of Sheikh Isa or
his sons.
(4) A Naj'li woman apparently flying from her husband who threatened
to murder her for alleged misconduct, took refuge in tho Agency.
The Political Agent tried to have her protected by the Dosari
headman of the village of Budayya where her husband lived; but
as the headman did not accept tho responsibility, she was given a
paper to show that sho had sought protection of tho Agency and
her complaint was to be enquired into, and forbidding any one
to molest her. Sho put up with some friends in Manamah where
her husband found her and on tho pretence of making a recon­
ciliation entored her compartment and murdered her with a knife.
The matter was reported to Sheikh Isa who refused to arrest tho
murderer and liis friends and strongly objected to the Political
Agent’s action claiming that the woman was one of his own
subjects and as such should not have been given protection, etc.
The case was submitted to higher authorities. This gave rise
to a petition which was prepared at the instigation of certain
disaffected persons including Sheikh Abdullah-bin-Isa signed only
by Arabs of Muharraq and addressed to Sir Percy Cox. It pur­
ported to complain against the Political Agent, Major Dickson,
for so-called high-hinded actions like building an aerodromo and
blocking a public road, starting a Municipality with consequent
rates, and curtailing their liberties, etc., etc. Sheikh Isa was
led to support the petition which he sent to the Resident with a
letter in much the same strain.
(5) At the instance of some of his subjects Bin Saud protested against
the 6 per cent, duty charged by Sheikh Isa on goods consigned to
Hasa and Qatif and demanded a rebate. When this was pointed
out to Sheikh Isa and a reasonable reduction suggested, he showed
much irritation and refused to allow any reduction. The matter
was submitted to Government and with some difficulty the Sheikh
finally agreed to charge 2 per cent, on such transit goods and
Rs. 20 per bale of pice j-goods. This he also considers unfair and
due to the instigations of Ilis Majesty’s Government’s representa­
tive.
III.—Victoria Memorial Hospital.
Assistant Surgeon G. K. Monani was in charge throughout the year. The
number of cases treated as compared with the two previous years is as follow :—-

If *r. In-door*. Out-door*. Total.

1918 30 5,870 5,900
19)9 55 5,723 5,778
1920 54 4,738 4,792

IV.—The Political Agent’s tours.
On the 29th January the Political Agent left for Hassa via Ojair,
returning on 17th Pcbruary after visiting Bin Saud at bis own request. As