Page 284 - Records of Bahrain (4) (i)_Neat

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272 Records of Bahrain
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tho merchants who would make the actual payments, and would
arrange for a deputation conoiatlng of 6 divero to meet them on
Monday to hear the dicloion.
Bclgravc wao present at the latter end of this Interview
:
and he and Shaikh Hamad departed together for the Customs House,

where they had some work. On arrival there they found the 200
divero assembled waiting for their anuwer. Instead of speaking
to them himoelf Shaikh Hamad who wao anxious to leave for his
hawking Bent them a meooage by some -saying
that he would meet 6 of their representatives on Monday and give
them hiB reply. He himoelf drove off in his motor for Hukhair.
After his departure the 200 divers walked into the Manama market

and commenced a little[very >♦«**-** looting.
‘ I I have not got an estimate of the damage done, but it does
not appear to have been very serious.
It As Boon as Belgrave got to know of what was happening he sent

word to Robinson who marched a squad of Ills men into the bazaar
i whereupon all was peace.
In the meantime I was holding the annual majlis at the Agenoy

and in the middle of the congratulatory speeches my Interpreter
brought me news that "the divers are looting the Bazaar". Parke
was present at the Agency and I told Shaikh nil to inform him.
He promptly went off to the Customs House and arrived in time
to see the divers sail for Muharraq. It chanced that a guard of
his armed police intended for Muharraq was all ready to sail.
He despatched them at once w6th ordero to prevent mischief.
The divers on arrival at Muharraq went to the house of an
usurer, helped themselveo to his rice and destroyed his records.

They were on the point of marching down the bazaar when Parke's
guard turned up, whereupon they all ran away. Six were arrested
and being foreigners have been sent to me for disposal.
These arc the facto so far as I have beon able to aooertain
them at present. The divers seem/ to have behaved like naughty
schoolboys rather than men determined to be nust^, but I have no
doubt that we shall obtain a large numoer of false claiino as well
as a few 'true ones.

It seems to be the general opinion that if Shaikh Hamad had .
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