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court appoints assessors to examine and deal
with cases, especially-disputes soout water
rights, fish traps and boundaries, It is
remarkable how willing the public are tc

assist the courts in matters of this kind
which frequently involve visits to gardens
outside the towns.

9. Agitation for a code. I am confident
that the public are genuinely satisfied v/ith
the normal administration of justice by the
Bahrain Court as long as the court does not
consist of one individual only. During last

summer conditions were aonormal and zhe feelings
of the Shi a community were stirred by the deci­
sion of the Bahrain court in certain cases

between Shia Bahama and members of the Ruling
Family. Certain members cf the Shia community
in Mananah, who are better educated than the
country people, became the leaders of a move­
ment which made representations to the govern­

ment asking for greater recognition of the Shia
Bahama who form perhaps two thirds of the whole
population. Among other demands they asked
that a code should be dram up for use in the

3ahraia Courts which they, thought would prevent
the possibility of unfair treatment to Bahama.
Most of their demands were reasonable and have
already been dealt with to their satisfaction
but the committee which is to examine the ques­

tion of a code has not yet begun to work owing
to the aosence pf the Shia leader Haji liansoor
al Arayadh who is eminently suitable to represent
the Shia community on the committee. I am myself

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