File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎144r] (293/531)

nrgbt be appointed. With regard, however, to items 1 and 4 of the ultima
tum be stated that be had so far been unable to lay hands on any of the 10 men
required, and he had obtained no further news of Sheikh Ali as his brother
Khalid bad not yet returned. He nevertheless expressed bis desire to comply
with the orders of Government and agreed to assist us in annexing such
attachable property as bis nephew might have left behind.
A little later Sheikh Kh did returned, but bis appearance evidenced no
trace of the exhausting effect which his all-night exertions might have been
expected to produce on a man of his age. He reported that he had ascertained
that Sheikh Ali, with 8 or iO followers, bad escaped to the mainland in the
boat of some fishermen which they had commandeered at a village on the
eastern extremity of the island, opposite Katr.
The Senior Naval Officer, Captain Prideaux, and myself in consultation,
now came to the conclusion that even presuming that Sheikh Esa had
connived at Sheikh Ali s escape, his compliance with three of the demands and
his agreement to hand over the fugitive’s property made it hardly justifiable'
for us to proc ed to extremities, but it was decided to call upon him forthwith
to send his son Hamed on board one of the men-of-war, both as a hostage and
as a proof of his own faith.
After considerable demur on bis own part and that of bis son be finally
accepted the situation, and Sheikh Hamed was at once sent off in a man-of-
war’s boat to H. M. S. on the understanding that if found nece c sary
he should be detained there pending receipt of further telegraphic in
structions from Government. The Sheikh was also assured on our own part
that it was not part of our intention to deport Hamed to Maskat or elsewhere
in lieu of Sheikh Ali.
6 . Sheikh Hamed having embarked steps w^ere then taken to annex
on behalf of Government Sheikh All’s house and realisable property, after
allowing sufficient time for h : s zenana to be removed and suitably housed
elsewhere with their immediate personal and household necessaries. They
were taken charge of by Sheikh Khalid. A detachment of Marines was landed
by the Senior Naval Officer to surround tbe house and keep order during its
attachment, and the same course was followed the next day while Sheikh Ali’s
effects where being removed. As soon as the house was completely cleared out
it was placed in charge of a sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. guard from the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , which will now bo
conveniently housed there pending the erection of permanent quarters for
them. I m <y mention that while co-operating with us in the attachment of the
hou'e Sheikh Ksa asked me to take cognizance of the fact that it was not, accord
ing to him, Sheikh Ali’s absolute property but was in fact the “ Government
House ” of Al anama, and part of the ancestral possessions of the Al-khalifa
family. I shall discuss this point, however, in a separate communication
and merely mention it incidentally here.
Two native crafts, pointed out by Sheikh Esa as belonging to his nephew,
were burnt where they lay, and the remainder of his property, consisting of per
sonal effects and live-stock, were collected at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for distribution and
sale in due course. I shall address Government subsequently with regard to
the disposal of the proceeds of the effects confiscated, which it was obviously
not desirable to keep in Bahrein.
7. On 28th February the Sheikh definitely intimated that Sheikh Ali
and the 10 culprits had escaped from Bahrein territory to the mainland and
that he was altogether unable to produce them. At the same time he under
took to publish notifications proclaiming their banishment and offering a re
ward of 10,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. for Sheikh All’s arrest and 200 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. for that of each
of the 10 hooligans. Translations of these notices form Enclosures 3 and 4.
So far, then, as the actual terms of the ultimatum were concerned, all the
measures that were rendered practicable by the circumstances had now been
taken ; there remained to be considered, however, the case of the Mullah brothers,
Jasim and Ahmed-bin-Mahz i, whose sinister influence in Manama had been
brought into marked relief during the recent incidents.
During the present proceedings they had been wise enough to abstain,
outwardly at all events, from anv special intrigue which w r ould in itself have
warranted the taking of drastic measures against them, but I was quite at one