'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎30r] (66/396)

FOR THE TEAR 1915.
49
The only serious crime committed during the year was the murder of
Yusuf Shamun, the leading Christian merchant, by housebreakers. Three cut
of the 4 housebreakers were caught after about six months, and a Jew, who had
given them information and disposed of the stolen goods, was brought back
from Basrah. One was sentenced to transportation for life and 2 to 14 years,
while the Jew was sentenced to seven years. Twenty-eight bad characters were
repatriated during the year.
Nationality of Parties in Criminal Cases.
'British . * . . 28 Maskat . . . .
Bahrain ... 44 Independent Arab . . 2^1
Persian ... 87 Manumitted Slaves . . 8
Ottoman . . . 91 Somalis . . . . 18
The small number of Civil Suits filed was due to restriction of Credit
owing to the war and to the fact that most outstanding claims were settled last
year.
Nationality of Parties in Civil Suits.
British . , . 24)9 Maskat , . . .101
Bahrain . • . 304 Independent Arab , .137
Persian . . . 867 Manumitted Slaves . . 13
Ottoman . . . 100 Somalis . . . ....
French .... 1
Of the 601 Civil Suits 397 were heard by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , while 131
were settled with the assistance of the Majlis, 49 by the Qazis, 19 by the
Pearl Salifah and 5 by the Marine Salifah. 214 were settled by consent.
Abdul Aziz bin Abdur Rahman, Imam of Nejd, generally known as Bin
Saud, was engaged in warlike operations
against the Ajman in Hassa for the last
half of the year. By November he had the situation well in hand and the
Ajman retired to the Kuwait border to seek Sir Mubarak's mediation just
before the latter's death. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. met Bin Saud at Qatif, on De
cember 22nd, and accompanied him to Darin in Tarut Island where he had an
interview with the Hon'ble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, on the 26th.
The Turkish garrison in A1 Beda was gradually reduced by desertions
until August, when the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
^ ar * went down with H. M. S. " Pyramus "
and " Dalhousie." At the advice of Shaikh Abdullah bin Qassim the remainder
of the Turks abandoned the fort which was occupied by a landing party.
Three guns, 500 shells and 105,000 rounds of ammunition were removed and the
fort was made over to the Shaikh.
Colonel Grey and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. again went to Qatar in October
1915.
Steps were taken during the last five months of the year to prevent the
„ , Tansjistanis trading with Bahrain and, in
ra e w! angw an oas. consequence, the tea smuggled into Persia
only reached one-third of the usual amount.
Nothing of interest in connection with
Ann s jl ramc.
the Arms Traffic occurred during the year.
No cases of Piracy were reported.
m , Eight slaves were manumitted during
Trade - the year.
H. M. S. " Dalhousie " visited Bahrain four times, H. M. S. Pyramus "
xr.twice and H. M. S. * s Lawrence" four
o . M. s. Ships. times during the year.