File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎242r] (489/531)

"^ken the masons passed back from bazaar, I saw KaktanPs son 2^0 anions
them and they beat him. I did not see any other Arabs beaten except Walad
Jiahtam He fell down and got up and bolted and hid himself in the shop of
Mubarak el Gameis. After that they left him alone and the Persians dispersed.
No. 14A.
_ ^ Abdulla bin Saad, Arab, aged 40, on solemn affirmation states:—
^ keep a piece-goods^ shop in the fc Sook el Maghasis.” I remember the
disturbance at the beginning of this month. I said my‘ c asr” prayers that
day at the mosque of Mahomed bin Ahmed. After that I returned to my shop
and stayed there until the disturbance began. The first that I saw was that
Abdu Nabi passed my shop with many Persians. I only know one who had a
revolver. I can t say why I noticed him, only I closed my shop and went
away. Nobody told me the word ce Hewarwar,” although I usually know the
weapon as “fard.” Abdu Nabi had a stick in his hand and so had the others.
They passed me and I saw no more.
I was subsequently sent for by Sheikh Ahmed with the other people. I
don t know what day, but about 10 days ago.
They asked me what I knew and I said I saw Abdu Nabi in the bazaar in
front of his servants saying to them “ Buzan, Buzan, el Faloos fel bet . 55 He said
these exact icords.
(The others have quoted him differently and it is to be noted that “ Bezan ”
is Persian and the rest Arabic.)
No. 15.
Abdul Aziz bin Salim, Negroid, aged about 40, states on solemn affirm-
ation-I am a diver in the service of Abdulla bin Hassan Doseri. I live in
Bahrein in a house of my own. I have been here the whole of Ramzan. A
disturbance occurred about 5 th, I was here at the time. In the afternoon
I said my “asr’’ prayers in the mosque called “Jumaan” and afterwards
went to the Persian bazaar and sat outside a Halwa shop. X bad no business
there particularly. I sat talking to a friend, Ahmed bin Haji Abdulla. I sat
there about 3 hours or 3| hours. The name of the owner of the shop was
Haji Abdulla and Ahmed, his son abovementioned. No one else was sittiuo-
there. While there I sa w Abdu Nabi’s weighing boy standing near the Halwa
shop. He was doing nothing particular. Another boy an Arab passed him
and ran against him. The servant of Abdu Nabi caught hold of the Arab boy
by the neck.^ The Arab boy had his brother with him and they both closed
with the Persian. This was quite close to me. I went up and interfered and
stopped them. Ihey none of them had sticks, but small canes, which they
used, but did not hurt one another. After I separated them, they went away.
After 15 minutes later Abdu Nabi came himself from the Amara. He abused
the two Arabs who had quarrelled with his servant. I do not know the Arabs*
names. I should recognise them if I saw them. The Arabs did not return the
abuse. Abdu Nabi then went to the Amara at least I suppose so as he
brought hack workmen with him. He was away about J hour. When he
came back, he was with his workmen walking in front of them. He had nothino*
in his hands, but ordered his men to “ Bezan ” strike. He meant to strike
four or five Arabs who were sitting there, including the two hoys who had
quarrelled with his servant. They did not kill any Arab in my presence, nor
did I see any wounded or hurt. They then left the bazaar. I returned to my
house. I saw no more of the disturbance, nor did I see any one wounded, but
I heard there was a row in the street, but was not curious enough to go and
s 'e it.
I was subsequently called by Mansoor bin Kheir Allah (last Priday,
December 2nd) to Sheikh Ahmed’s house afternoon prayers. Yazier She-
reideh was present, and others whom they had collected for testimony. Mullah
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mahzar took my statement. Salman Megu wrote it.
They asked me what had happened. I told them as above. They wrote it down.
I gave my verbal evidence to Sheikh Ahmed once before, but lie did not write