File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎241v] (488/531)

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in the month. I said afternoon prayers in my own house. Afterwards I went
to Bazuzi’s shop to buy coffee. Before I arrived there, I saw near the shop of
Muallim that a servant of Abdu Nabi, a one-eyed man, was caught by one Saad
Gahtani and was trying to get loose, in order to go for the Arabs, of whom
there were two boys, who wanted to quarrel with him. Abdu NabBs servant
got loose and reached the boys and they began fighting; a lanre number of
Arabs, I can’t say how many, were collected there. Meanwhile Abdu Nabi
arrived with some of his sevants and some of the shop people. Abdu Nabi
called out “ Bizan ” “ el Ghowazi fil bet ” strike. “ I have the money in my 4
house 5 * (i.e., money for paying compensation if necessary). ’ y*
They struck a negro named Marzuk bin Ismail and made his face bleed,
and he caught hold of Abdu Nabi by the chest of his coat. I then went away
to my house and saw no more. I did not meet any wounded person in the
street nor did I see any one wounded except Marzuk.
I was sent for last Friday to Sheikh Ahmed’s (December 2 nd), and they
wrote down my statement.
No cross-examination.
No. 14.
Ahmed Nasir,-Bahreini, aged 40, on solemn affirmation states:—lam
a rice seller. I remember the disturbance at the beginning of this month,
4th or 5th. On that day I was in my shop selling groceries. My shop
is outside the bazaar. The disturbance was far from my shop. I could not
see it from my shop. A number of Persians passed my shop going towards
the bazaar. I don’t know who any of them were. They were like masons.
They went silently altogether. No one that I recognised was with them.
Afterwards they came back about 10 minutes later, and Arabs were with them.
The Arabs were frightened and running away and Persians followm® them'
There were not more than 50 persons or slightly under. When I saw them i e
the Perdans, they were beating the Arabs. I saw no Arab killed, or’any
wounded.'-I did not see any Persian killed, but I saw Abdu Nabi’s father and
brother lying on the ground and the Arabs beating them.
After I saw the Persian masons coming back as above stated, I closed my
shop. I closed early owing to the disturbance, as I thought there was no more
chance of business,
, r . h 5: iut U P> I went towards my house. I saw people beating
Mahomed Kal Reza and his father. I did not help them. I am too poor a
person.^ 1 made off to my house. Arabs were actually heating them. I cannot
recognise any 01 them. There was a crowd of about 80 or 100 persons, slaves,
Arabs, bomeborn negros, and some women.
rn „„ Ther0 were a nly t '!° 1 >ersian s» Mahomed and his father. Abdu Nabi was
running away. Some Arabs were following him to beat him.
bin him, T but h e escaped by his good luck. He escaped to Ali
not h'™ 80 ’, 1 aaw blm S° ln there with people after him, but I did
theV w e nt h ho m e e0P o e Pa er h0USe ' The pe 0 P le inside closed tlle d °<»-. I
be“nn™“ of the row T ^ , C ° me .°, Ut a § ain ' 1 ^ ka °w what was the
' , ° T f ‘he row. I stated something in an ishtishad (testimony paper)
Sheikh T °f Mullah Sheikh Ahmed, brother of MuHah
Sheikh Jassim. Mansur bin Khair Allah took me there. The Mullah asked
tTe a/2 , 1 ha i Se0n ' 1 told 1 had ^en the Persians running after
aU Aay e told Ion 11 Thf ^ , H<5 iS a sho P b eeper. I did not tell them
fewwordsfrom y meandtLn a l?owe" m“ e togr° h;they ^ d ° Wn 3
Cross-examined by Sheikh Earned
know^whatlor! 16 maS ° US had canes and some thick sticks-I don’t
thereAtfafcAuoTetLf ^ many Periians there ^re, but
hands. Isaw^revolver -A^h? i f 8 Tt ° arryi ^ nothin S « their
He did not fire it, and I don’t know'what'h'e wanted itTort '^ 8 ° f ^ ^