Page 108 - Histories of City and State in the Persian Gulf_Neat

88 Histories of City and State in the Persian Gulf

the contest between Shaykh ‘Isa and Shaykh ‘Ali, the Al Khalifah governor
of Manama, as each routinely sent their retainers to enforce collections.
Further evidence of the crucial position of these suqs in the political
economy of tribal government is the transfer of the fruit and vegetable
markets from Shaykh ‘Ali to Shaykh Hamad (Isa’s son and designated
successor), after British intervention established the principle of succes-
sion by primogeniture in 1900. In 1912, Shaykh ‘Isa also donated the
meat market to Shaykh Salman, Hamad’s own designated successor who
was still an infant, in order to ensure for him a future power base in
Manama. 33
After the 1880s, however, a new system of tax collection started to be
enforced in the local markets in parallel with the reorganisation of the
customs administration in the harbour. While the imposition of al-sukhrah
continued to plague retailers, Shaykh ‘Isa became increasingly reliant
on the cooperation of appointed tax-farmers and brokers (al-dallalun)
who pocketed fees on sales. In the eyes of traders, there continued to be
a fine line between the collection of brokerage fees and the imposition of
al-sukhrah, as many brokers continued to be recruited from the rank-and-
file of al-fidawiyyah. Yet the most influential tax-farmers were Shi‘i entre-
preneurs who were able to capitalise on the social connections and strong
sectarian loyalties which bound the shopkeeper population together. 34
In their new capacity as tax-farmers these entrepreneurs were also able
to diversify their portfolios by organising tenancies and providing for the
upkeep and repair of shops. The activities of ‘Abd al-Nabi Bushehri,
a Persian merchant, provide an insight into the scale of the business.
From 1904 he controlled part of the fruit and vegetable markets on behalf
of Shaykh Hamad, the heir apparent, and managed a large number of
rented properties which included warehouses, coffee shops and open
35
areas used by itinerant traders. Shi‘i merchants also came to control
the markets selling meat and wood for domestic consumption, the only
two items of import monopolised by Shaykh ‘Isa. At least until 1920
Ahmad ibn Sallum, a Baharna landowner, and Abu Qasim Shirazi, a
Persian wholesaler specialising in foodstuffs, acted as tax-farmers and brokers
on the sale of meat and sheep skins. From 1910 Ahmad ibn Sallum con-
trolled Manama’s meat market almost single-handedly. Besides being

33
File n. 53, IT; waraqah al-iltizam (tax-farming contract), Rabi‘ al-Awwali 1347/August–
September 1928, BA; waraqah al-hibah (certificate of royal donation) from Shaykh ‘Isa,
Jumada al-Thaniyyah 1330/May–June 1912, R/15/2/806 IOR.
34
Secretary Municipality of Manama to Political Agent Bahrain, 19 Rabi‘ al-Thani 1351/22
August 1932, 15/2/1921 IOR.
35
Waraqah al-iltizam (tax-farming contract), Rabi‘ al-Awwali 1347/August–September
1928 and Muharram 1323/March–April 1905, BA.