'File 9/4 Bahrain Reforms. Introduction of Reforms in Bahrain' [‎2v] (21/224)

Previously the Amir of the town, one of the worst characters in Bahrain, "but
who could be trusted by the Shaikhs to suppoit them in every form of extortion, had
arbitrarily collected taxes, practically the whole of which were devoted to his
personal expenditure.
Meanwhile he aud his stafi lived entirely on credit, and to this end he owes
very large sums, which nobody has the courage, under existing circumstances, to
claim.
Abdulla accepted the institution solely because he was himself to be President,
and one Keshan Akhtar (an unscrupulous person who was later deported for
creating enmity between the Bahrain Government and its subjects and British
subjects) who was his protege, was to be Secretary. His object, without doubt,
was to still further establish his supremacy. When, however, he found that the
municipal laws conferred on the council a considerable voice m the conduct of its
affairs, and the presence of 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. , ^-officio at its meetings, limited
his power to overawe the gathering, he and his party, stirred up public opinion
and engaged themselves in active propaganda against 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. which
eliminated in a petition against him.
Unfortunately owing to the exigencies of the service, 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. was
about this time transferred. Although it was made clear to Shaikh liiasa, that the
transfer was in no way connected with the spurious document compiled against
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. yet it was an opportunity too good to be lost, and Shaikh
Abdulla's party freely let it be known that the transfer was an immediate result of
their efforts. In fact when I airived here, 1 was told this on all sides, and Shaikh
Easa, not realizing that I knew all the circumstances, himself told me that they had
been obliged to have my predecessor removed. I was also told by other persons
that the same thing had once before happened to Captain MacKenzie, though I was
not told on what grounds.
On my third visit to Shaikh Easa, he cheecfully informed me that he lived,
as it were, under the wing of a sort of " Guardian Angel " inasmuch as any one who
failed to fall in with his wishes, in any way, invariably came to a bad end. He
then proceeded to cite instances of persons who had mysteriously died, or become
ruined, and which he attributed to their having at some time displeased him.
Shaikh Easa is completely in his dotage, and is dominated by his wife, Shaikh
Abdulla's mother, who invariably coaches him in what to say. Once he has
delivered himself of his lesson ; he relapses into infantile conversation, and is wholly
incapable of grasping any matter put to him. He is so much under the thumb of
the lady and Shaikh Abdulla, that he will hear no accusation against the latter and
the few persons who have had the temerity to inform him of his son's misdeeds,
have invariably suffered his displeasure and consequent spiteful vengeance. The
chief Qadhi, Shaikh Easa's oldest friend, and perhaps the only man who can safely
speak out to him, has constantly in writing, and at interview, informed him of
specific cases of wanton oppression, but has failed to make an impression.
In the interval between the depature of my predecessor and my arrival,
Shaikh Abdulla and the Secretary, scandalously mismanaged the municipality,
and the council was so cowed, that its meetings had become a farce. No member
could be induced to say more than " whatever the President advises I agree to,"
but one and all explained to me, that this was from fear, and that they bitterly
resented the position, and the many injustices which were being perpetrated in
their names.
Some time after my arrival matters began to come to a head. Whole com
munities of Bahrain subjects applied to be put under British protection and prac
tically every person of importance complained of oppression and cited specific
examples. I discussed matters with Shaikh Abdulla, who was clever enough
to gauge the situation, and persuaded his father to allow him to resign from public
affairs, in fvour of the heir-apparent, Shaikh Hamad. There is little doubt that
he did so solely because he anticipated that public disturbances were pending, and
he feared the consequences.
Shaikh Easa accepted the situation and wrote officially that he had appointed
Shaikh Hamad to the management of his affairs. In conversation he informed