Page 201 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

Reaction to the reforms, 1923 189

(1
activo for about ono month before the pearling season commenced—sav
from 21st March to the ond of April—and again for about ono month
alter—sa Y from, tho 21st September to tho cud of October. During these
periods tho Salifah Court would sit permanently .and tho Nakhudas would
oo summonod in turn to appear with their divers and haulers. During the
poriod boforo tho season tho Nakhudas would prove to tho satisfaction of
the Department tho amount paid on account of advances and food during
tho oil season to each diver, and such amounts would bo entered by a clork
in tho Nakhuda’s accounts with a copy in the diver’s book; tho advance
for tho season would bo paid over to the diver in tho departmental oiTice
and similarly entered by the clork in the Nakhuda’s and diver’s book. In the
event of a dispute the Nakhuda and diver concerned would proceed boforo the
Salifah Court and havo the amount adjusted. In the period at tho end
of tho season tho Nakhudas with their divers would be summoned in tho
same way. Tho Nakhudas would prove to tho satisfaction of the Depart­
ment tho net proceeds of the season for the boat and state the divers and
haulers’ shares, which shares would be paid over to tho divers and haulers
(less advances previously paid them) in the departmental office, and details
of the transaction entered in tho Nakhuda’s account and the main facts
in the diver’s book. In the event of the diver’s share being less than the
previous debt to the Nakhuda tho amount due to him on lus share should
be entered in his book and the debit balance shown, Nakhudas and divers
having disputes would proceed boforo the Salifa Court and have them
adjudicated. For making this arrangement the Bahrain Government might
legitimately tax Nakhudas and divers a small percentage (say 1 per cent.)
on their season’s gains or on the amount paid to the divers, this of course
apart from the general tax on each pearling boat which I consider should
be levied and the amount of which is being considered. This arrangement
would put the whole business on a sound footing, but it entails a good
deal of hard work and is therefore not suited to Bahrain; the Nakhudas
would bitterly resent it as introducing too much publicity into their affairs
and reducing their chances of peculation and swindling. Before endorsing
and finally submitting this scheme I propose to make enquiries into the
number of boats, Nakhudas and divers with a view to sccjng whether the
proposal is feasible: it is possible that the numbers of the last mentioned
category are so large that a small department could not deal with them
in the time. I think however something on these lines will have to be
introduced.
(0) Succession.—To ensure the success of the reforms it is essential
that early steps should bo taken to train an enlightened successor to Shaikh
Hamad. The latter’s eldest son Selman has all the worst qualities of tho
Al Khalifa family. Ho is totally uneducated, vain, lazy, and inclined
to oppress and tyrannizo over anyone who is powerless to resist. Solman is
absolutely unfit to succeed his father as ruler. It is hardly necessary to
add that Shaikh Hamad’s youngest brother Abdulla, though the most
.capable of tho Al Khalifa is quite unsuitable to succeed his brother. Tho
1 Political Agent considers that ono of the younger sons named Mobarak
laged about twelve is the smartest of Shaikh Hamad’s sons and that he
(would 'repay education. Major Daly also thinks that it would be very
-(useful to the Bahrain State if his-two younger brothers accompanied him..
(Major Daly suggests that Mobarak and his two younger brothers should
be provided with a tutor and sent to one of the Chiefs^ Colleges in India.
The son of His Highness the Sultan of Muscat, Sayyed Sneed, is, as the
Government of India arc aware, now at the Mayo College. 1 agree with
the Political Agent that it would bo a good thing to arrange for tho educa­
tion of ShaikJj Hamad’s three youngest sons aiid would enquire whether
Gov.ornmont would bo prepared to authorize mo to prcs.s Shaikh Hamad
to solid Mobarak and his two younger brothers, or at least one of them,
to Collego. It would, wo think, bo well worth while for tho Bahrain Stato
to pay for their education and as it is character rathor than book learn ill"
which we desire them to acquire, tho best results, wo aro sure, would
jiccruo if an athlotm well bred young officer could bo selected ns their tutor..