File 1508/1905 Pt 1 'Bahrain: situation; disurbances (1904-1905); Sheikh Ali's surrender; Question of Administration Reforms (Customs etc)' [‎244v] (494/531)

24
—“ '
I know nothing about the disturbance except what I heard afterwards by'
hearsay.
No. 32.
Mirza Ismail, Agent of Messrs. - Gray Paul & Co., states on solemn
affirmationMy ancestors have all been settled in Rangoon for many genera
tions, but I was actually born in Bushire. I have been 13 years Agent for the
British Indian Company (Messrs. Gray Paul & Co.) in Bushire and 17 years here^
in their office. [Jr
I remember the disturbance early in Ramzan.
One of the Arabs was sent to give evidence before you by the Sheikh
Hassan bin Ahmed Ibrahim, and I believe stated that he saw the fracas was
actually with me on my premises the whole time that the disturbance was going
on and could have seen nothing. He is a small merchant dealing mats, rafters,
coir rope, etc. He came to my quarters about 11 o’clock Arabic to see me on
business. He comes nearly every day. On this particular day he came to ask
quotations for London freight for mother-o’-pearl shells. I was sitting outside
my office. My office, as you are aware, is on the sea-shore, nowhere near the
bazaar. He stayed and talked with me for a long time. About 10 or 15
minutes before sunset Mr. Milborrow (my chief) came downstairs and asked me
to come for a walk and I left Hassan bin Ahmed there with several others who
were waiting to see the sun go down in order to set their watches and then go to
pray.
I did not see him again then.
Afterwards I met him, after having heard that he had given evidence of an
eye witness before you, and said to him “ You who profess to read the Koran,
how could you go and pretend to give evidence about the disturbance when
you know you were with meat the time or at my place right up to sunset. ,,
He replied, ‘‘I went there after I left yon.” I rejoined, “But by that time it
was sunset and all the shops wbuid have been closed.” He then changed his
statement and said, “ No, I went before I came to you.”
This was obviously false as the disturbance was not known to any of us
when he was with me. I did not hear of it until I went out.
My tindal Non-European boatswain or head of a group of labourers. , Ghulam Ali, one of the clerks Abu Talib, could corroborate
my statement
Before me,
(Sd.) P. Z. COX.
Tka 9th December 1904.
Note. —The above witness is a native gentleman of education and repute,
whose evidence is above suspicion.
Enclosure No. 9.
Memorandum of Resident's views as to punishments which will meet the case
com municated to Sheikh Esd for acceptance or discussion with Resident
and Assistant Political Aqeht*
( 1 ) That the following ^ix persons who have been named or indicated
should after identification receive 24 stripes each and a term of imprisonment
or expulsion from the island.
( 2 ) That Rs. 2,000 should be paid as compensation to the Persians* through
the Assistant 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. .
(3) that the Chief should station a special guard of his own trusted men
on duty in Manama to maintain order in the bazaar.
(4) Sheikh Ali bin Ahmed must leave Bahrein at once pending instructions
from t he Government of India as to his future.
That is Rs. 500 each to Ahdu Nabi, his father and his brother, and Rs. 500 for the remaining sufferers.
G. L C. P.O.—Vo- 3301 P. D.—30-12-1904.—60.—P. M. M.