Page 236 - Records of Bahrain (1) (ii)_Neat

594 Records oj Bahrain
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Office No 66 of 1849
Cons No 2 of 1849
From
Major Hennell
Resident in the Persian Gulf

To
A. Malet Esq.
Chief Secretary to Government,
Bombay

Bushire 28 February 1849.
Secret Department
Sir,
1. I have the honour to report for the information of the Right
Honble the Governor in Council, that on the 24th Instant a boat
arrived from Bahrein having been specially despatched by Sheik
Mahomed ben Khuleefa , the Chief of that Island, for the purpose of
bringing a communication to my address from himself dated the 9th
instant, of which the accompanying is a copy and translation. By
the same opportunity a high caste Arab colt was sent by the Sheik as
a present.

2. The apparent object of Sheik Mahomed's letter is to declare
himself a British subject. On first perusing this document, l
struck me, the expressions used by the Sheik might be empl oyed y
him in the not unusual mode of Eastern compliment and exaggera
for the purpose of enlising the exercise of my influence in nls
behalf, to induce the late Seceders from Bahrain to return to e
hones. On reference however to a letter from Hajie Jasseln our
Agent at that Island, I found that the proposition made by She i
Mahomed, to place himself under the British Government, had been
debated in an assembly of the principal members of his family# an
apparently unanimously agreed to.

3. In my reply dated the 21st January 1848 to a sugge vour
the Right Honble the Governor in Council, as conveyed n y fche
despatch No 535 under date the 11th December 1847, r®g*r , X
formation of a treaty of alliance with the Sheik of Ba r » against
ventured to submit the reasons which appeared to me to w® ?ations
the policy of entering at that time. Into more intimate
with this personage,
opinion I then

Bruat„n:°nu0sw'b°;
difference, so much 6o/ that ^°med hlmself" lies a material
have intimated that a ooint^J "y reply to the Bahrein Chief,
pon by any subordinate authn^ifU°h ImP°rtance cannot be decided
his desire to become a BrIm,u and therefore I have submitted
eclslon of the Government subject for the consideration and

4.
rejected* She i'll that In case of his proposition being
present ;0!lt on a ed,bin Khuleefa would rest content In his
hesitation ^ re"dependent Chief. I should have no
attending a rln!P"9 *Y declded opinion that the Inconvenience
arl!?na from'COnnexlon w‘th him, would outweigh the advantages
tenll ofrS! 2^ *" arrangement. It is however evident from the
tenor of the Sheik's letter, that he Is strongly Impressed by the