'Administration Reports 1905-1910' [‎145v] (295/616)

9g ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. POLITICAL RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
Khurrji and Abdul Karim-bin-Muliammad Khadim. After a little trouble at
the time of change on account of the deficiency of boats, the new contractors
were induced to purchase in their own name a sufficient number for the
ordinary needs of the port, and the work has progressed satisfactorily since.
The Infantry Guard of one Native officer and 26 Non-Commissioned Officers
and men of the 108th Infantry (Muhammadans) were relieved by a detachment
of one Native Officer and 28 Non-Commissioned Officers and men (Mahrattas
and Muhammadans) of the 108th Infantry on the 3rd June 1907. This latter
detachment leturned to India after relief by a similar party of the 112th
Infantry (Jats) on the 25th October 1908.
During the year under report little si^n was apparent of the secret trade
in arms, which undoubtedly has not ceased to exist. There are some slight
grounds for suspecting that the Persian clerks employed by Messrs. Wonckhaus
& Co. are not entirely innocent of connection with it, as they are extremely
friendly with one of the leading operators who resides in Muharraq. In view
of the pending Conference at Brussels, it was considered undesirable to search
too closely for definite proofs of the guilt of the influential individuals who are
believed to take part in the industry, as much unpleasantness will be avoided
if the stoppage of the traffic can be effected within a reasonable time by
action outside of Bahrein.
On the 19th January 1908, 23 Afghans, who had been repulsed from
Maskat, came ashore in Bahrein, and avoided returning to the mail-steamer
in spite 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. 's orders that they should do so. They were
then brought in custody to the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , wbere their persons and effects were
thoroughly searched, with the result that notes and cash amounting to
Bs. 99,452 were temporarily taken away from them. The men were then kept
under strict surveillance in a masjid outside the front gate of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for a
month, after which they seemed glad to leave for Bunder Abbas. They had
missed one down-steamer, owing to her coming in after dark and leaving early
the following morning in rough weather.
With regard to the case of Shaikh Ali-bin-Ahmad, the Chief's nephew,
who has been living in Bombay under police supervision since August 1905,
it has transpired that during the earlier months of the year under report Shaikh
Esa was being subjected to constant pressure by his peers, the Sultan of Maskst
and the Chief of Koweit, as well as by the youthful members of his family to
forgive the exile and approach the Government of India for the remission of
the balance of the sentence. In the result a first reference was made to this
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. on the 26th September 1907, and, though the subsequent negotiations
were delayed by the absence 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. on leave and by the advent
of the month of Ramadhan, the question had progressed to the point of Shaikh
Ali submitting certain conditions in writing, for the governing of his future
conduct in January 1908. These conditions were slightly revised under instruc
tions from the Political Eesident, and at the ch-se of the year the release and
return of the detenu to Bahrein was becoming imminent.
The Customs Administration of Bahrein was carried on this year without
hitch, the Manager and Accountants being Hindus, while an Arab watched the
management on behalf of the Chief. It is believed that Shaikh Esa has barely
received a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. as revenue from this source, though he has evinced
no discontent, being satisfied probably that the diminution is totally attri
butable to the slackness of trade. He characteristically contrived, however, to
cut his coat to his cloth, by discouraging his Bedouin friends of the mainland
from approaching him and refusing absolutely to send any of his subjects'
boats over to provide them with free communication with the islands.
The Turkish Postal forwarding Agent, Abdur Bahim -bin-Othman, men
tioned in last year 's report, left Bahrein in haste and panic during the course
of the plague epidemic, and did not return before the close of the year.
His far from onerous duties were performed during his absence by two or
three friends under, presumably, some private arrangement.
Judicial. —Six hundred and ninety-four civil plaints and 234 criminal
complaints were received and disposed of during the year under report.