Page 279 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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On 6th Feb, about thirty people mostly second

rate merchants from Muharraq and Redd, went out to
Sakhir and had an audience with Shaikh Hamad, They
demanded that the proclamation should be cancelled.
One of them in particular spoke very violently on the
subject. (Since then a case has been brought against

him for misappropriating the property of some minors-)
Somewhat to their surprise Shaikh Hamad replied to them

very firmly telling them that the present condition of
things was disgraceful and fedt could not be allowed to
continue. They left without obtaining any concession.

Unfortunately this firm attitude was not maintained; it
was suggested this same night that the proclamation
should be taken down from the notice boards, secretly.

However this was not done.
The Sid of Fitr was on 8th Feb. Contrary to his
usual custom Shaikh Hamad did not visit Kuharraq on the

second day of the Sid. In Manama conditions were
normal but in Muharraq the Eid was not celebrated in the
ordinary way. The slaves who dance outside the houses

of the Shaikhs, a great feature of this Eid, did not
appear, they had been given orders not to come, Crowds
collected on the pier waiting to make a demonstration,

speeches were made by people in the Bazaars.
Bazaars Close.

On the day after the Eid all the shops and offices in
the Manama and Muharraq bazaars were closed, This demons-
tration originated in Muharraq where some of the leading

merchants set the example, others did the same and the
small shopkeepers closed their stores as they were afraid
that the bazaar might be looted. In Manama rumours were