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The Qusaibis.—The Political Agent stated last year that he did not concur in
the view that Bin Saud was dispensing with the services of the Qusaibis, or that
they were under eclipse. On the contrary their power has waxed rather than
waned, and they have been steadily buying property throughout the year, despito
very heavy losses in the bankruptcy of Habib Rosenthal. In fact one may say
that they appear almost the only firm in Bahrain with any ready money left, though
owed some £100,000 by Bin Saud. One frequently hears that this monarch will
“ go bankrupt This idea arises from applying the western rule of thumb to a
person to whom it in no way applies, for if he is unable to pay his creditors, Bin
Saud will simply retire to the interior leaving them disconsolate on his borders.
The Qusaibis may have to wait a long time for their money, but there is little fear
that he will repudiate his obligations to them.
Before proceeding on recess the Political Agent warned Abdul Aziz Qusaibi
against further acts of aggression ;such as those which had marked the last two
summers, and none occurred. The relations of the Agency with the Qusaibis
are officially most cordial, but they can hardly be ignorant of the fact that it is
the only force that prevents them doing as they please in Bahrain.
Qatar.—The Political Agent paid two visits to Qatar in the past year and was
well received by Shaikh Abdulla bin Jasim. The Shaikh has little power over the
more unruly of his kinsmen, and villages on the northern shores of the peninsula
pay little attention to him.
Relations were not improved when, at the close of the year the Political Agent
was obliged to attach some pearls belonging to a relative who had been sued by
two Persian merchants in the Agency Court. The Shaikh deals largely in pearls
himself, but after denying indignantly that the Court had any right to touch
them, once the case lias been settled amicably and the pearls returned to Dohah,
he himself sent them to Bombay for sale to meet his own claims !
An act amounting to piracy and another in which a wrecked Persian dhow
was looted occurred on the northern shores of Qatar, and neither had been settled
satisfactorily at the close of the year. The Shaikh’s weakness in these quarters
may be the cause of trouble in the future. The matter is being taken up by the
Political Agent on his next visit to Dohah.
Qatar has been much more severely affected by the depression than Bahrain,
and the bulk of the inhabitants are on the verge of destitution. In fact slave
owners are finding difficulty in feeding their property.
Slavery.—Nineteen slaves were manumitted during the course of the year.
The steps taken to prevent the traffic in women from Malabar appear to have
been successful. One woman complained that she had been divorced and had
nowhere to go, but an Arab on the Agency verandah was struck by her charm and
offered to marry her at once. The Agency, in a new role of match maker, warmly
seconded the proposal, and the happy pair were sent to the Qadhi forthwith. The
Malabaris present a difficulty in that scarcely anyone knows their language, and
though the Agency with its present staff habitually conducts official business in
five languages, or even six at a pinch, yet Malabari is an obstacle to be surmounted
with difficulty.
Climate.—The year was unusually hot but the rainfall was much greater
than usual being 5-1 inches. Heavy rain falling in February and every upstair
room in the Agency leaked save one. The “ bareh ” was almost a complete failure
and this raised the temperature in June.
General.—For the first time in the last three years, the Staff of the Agency was
sufficient for its bare needs, and the extra vernacular office clerk asked for was
sanctioned in April. The work in the English office is now practically up to date,
and the duration of cases in the vernacular office reduced from nearly two months
to two weeks. In the latter an improved filing and registration system has been
instituted, and if a party brings a card which is always given them it is possible
to trace a case in a minute or two. Since the Agency Courts are expected to
function in Arabic, Persian or Hindustani, a large staff is required than might be
sufficient elsewhere.
With the old staff the work of the English office was always hopelessly in
arrears, the Trade Report being at one time over a year late. It is to be hoped
thes»' delays will not recur.
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