Page 273 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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importers of dates. It was decided however that the interests of the comparatively small group of
persons who were adversely affected by a reduction in the price of imported dates could not be allowed
to interfere with measures which would benefit the whole population.
Several meetings of the Agriculture and Water Committee were held. Permission was given
in a few eases for artesian wells to be drilled cither on the condition that existing wells were closed down
or to provide water for cultivation which would perish if not irrigated.

ZUBARA
One of the most important events which happened during the year was the settlement of the
Zubara dispute which had been the cause of much bitter feeling between Bahrain and Qatar for about
thirteen years.
Zubara, on the Qatar coast opposite Bahrain is the ancestral home of the Khalifah family.
They settled there when they came from Kuwait in 1715 and it was from Zubara that they conquered
Bahrain in 1783. Zubara became a town of considerable size and importance, it was attacked by the
Persians early in the 28th century but they were defeated by the Khalifah and their followers. In
the early days most of what is now the state of Qatar was subject to the Khalifah Shaikhs. After the
Khalifah established their rule in Bahrain the importance of Zubara decreased although it was used
as a place of refuge when there was danger of attacks against Bahrain. Eventually it became the
home of the Naim tribe of Bahrain Arabs and of some of the minor Khalifah Shaikhs who lived in the
Zubara district. Today Zubara is a ruined city and all that remains is the mosque and part of the
walls of the famous fort. During the dispute, shortly after Bahrain had built a fort on Hawar Island,
the Shaikh of Qatar built a large square tower at Zubara.
The quarrel began in 1937 when the Naim tribe objected to a customs post being set up by the
Shaikh of Qatar at Zubara. The Bahrain Arabs appealed to their Shaikh. Negotiations to reach an
agreement between Bahrain and Qatar were long and unsuccessful. While a deputation from Bahrain
was on its way back to Bahrain after a fruitless meeting with the Qatar Shaikhs the Naim were attacked
near Zubara by the Qatar forces. In the engagement there were casualties on both sides. The Naim
retired to Bahrain and from then, for a long period, all intercourse between Bahrain and Qatar was
suspended. During the world war the total embargo on Qatar was partially lifted but nobody from
Bahrain was allowed to go to Qatar and vice versa. At frequent intervals attempts were made to
settle the question but without success.

During the year under review soon after the accession of the present ruler of Qatar, Shaikh Ali
bin Abdullah Al-Thani, another effort was made to reach a rapprochement. Fortunately the negotia­
tions were successful. The Shaikh of Qatar withdrew his garrison from the fort, the Bahrain Arabs
returned, to Zubara and the situation reverted to the status quo which had existed before the quarrel.
The Bahrain Government once more allowed Qatar’s imports to come through Bahrain and granted
a concession to Qatar, similar to that previously enjoyed only by Saudi Arabia in respect of certain
ports on the mainland coast by which in-transit goods paid 2 per cent of customs duty instead of the
full duty.
Most of the Naim tribe as well as some other Bahrain Arabs settled once more in the Zubara
area with their flocks and camels and tents. They now obtain their food supplies from Bahrain without
any question of customs and they pass freely between Bahrain and Zubara without let or hindrance.
It is to be hoped that the present friendly relations between Bahrain and Qatar may be lasting.

GENERAL
Visit of His Highness to Kuwait.—At the beginning of the year, in November 1949. His
Highness Shaikh Sulman paid a visit to Kuwait where he stayed for three days as the guest of the late
ruler of Kuwait, His Highness Shaikh Ahmed Al-Jabr. His Highness made his journey to and from