File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎109v] (223/531)

acts of oppression consist in the orders issued by the Chief to summarily delive r
up to his nominees the two packets held by Ramoh and Muqbil and in the fact
that from that date the heirs have been unable to recover the values of the
packets or even to ascertain for certain whether they have been received by the
Chief from Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab and Syed Nasir or not. It is common
ly believed that Sheikh Isa himself has realized the price of the pearls and the
value of the ornaments and has converted the money to his own use, in consequen
ce of his having failed to obtain his customary annual advance of money from the
Customs Farmers, but I think it is possible that the two dishonest debtors of the
estate have also profited in perhaps paying the Chief lesser sums than those
which the Mejlis fixed upon the two packets.
4. As the late Syed Khalaf was a subject of the Chief of Bahrein, under the
precedents in this office his heirs would not ordinarily receive assistance from me,
but in my letter No. 204 of to-day’s date I have asked permission to take cogni
zance of all such cases as this in the future.
I am told by my advisers that this case of tyranny is rather an exceptional
one, and that the Chief does not often rob the widow and the fatherless in such
open and extensive fashion, though his servants are less scrupulous than himself.
5. The further consideration also attaches to this case that, when the verdict
of the Mejlis was given from this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , it is humiliating to ourselves that any
party to the case should be so grossly ill-treated. Popular opinion is strong on
the subject, as is evinced by the action of the two merchants Muqbil and Abdul
Rahmarq and moreover if justice is not speedily given, I anticipate that consider
able general inconvenience will result from the members of the Mejlis following
the example of their two Arab leaders.
6. In these circumstances, I solicit your permission to take up this case
against the Chief and the two debtors at once, without waiting for the decision of
Government on the general principle involved.
Translation of the Petition of Mussammat Shaha, daughter of Salman Bin Rajab,
widow of Syed Khalaf Bin Syed Isa, dated 10th Rabi althani (13th of June
1903) Bahrein.
My husband, Syed Khalaf, died in my father's house (where I still
five) on the 27th of the month of Safar, 1322 Hijri. He left no heirs to his
property except myself and my two sons, Syed Saad and Syed Khalaf, and
another son, Syed Isa, by a second wife who died before her husband. On my
request my father and Syed Nasir, cousin of my husband, went to Muqbil
AlDukher, and informed him that the house of the deceased Syed Khalaf was
occupied by certain people, that it contained certain valuables, and that I was
very much afraid lest these be removed unauthorizedly from the house. Muqbil
found it advisable to lock up all such places where there were effects and to
stamp the locks with the seal of the deceased. 3 or 4 days afterwards the Ban
ians appeared before Mr. Gaskin and informed him of the affixing of locks and
seals by Muqbil. Some days later Sheikh Isa Bin Ali thought of laying open
the locks and sealed apartments, of seeing what valuables they contained, of
taking out these and putting them in the custody of Ramoh Banian Merchant of Indian extraction. and taking
receipt thereof. His orders were executed by the late Sharidah, his clerk {Note —
and in the presence of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. Haji Abbas). Later on Sheikh Isa
found that my deceased husband owed money to several people, and he with
drew the pearls from the custody of Ramoh to be valued in the presence of ex
perts. The following were present in the house of Ganga Ram on the occasion
of the valuation of pearls :—
1. Muqbil AlDukher.
2. Mohammad Bin Abdal Wahab.
3. Syed UIwi Bin Syed Jawwad,
4. Musaid Bin Khalifa.
5. Vishan Das, Banian Merchant of Indian extraction. .