File 1855/1904 Pt 1 'Koweit:- H.M. Govt and Political Agent at Koweit. (Representations from Turkish Govt & temporary withdrawal of Agent.)' [‎88v] (172/352)

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That after the above two conditions had been actually fulfilled I
should see Sheikh Ali in the presence of the Chief and Captain
Prideanx and should warn him regarding his departure from
Bahrein pending receipt of the views of Government, I sug
gested his either going on pilgrimage to Mecca or on a visit to
Maskat, Lingah or Koweit.
Sheikh Esa also agreed, if I so desired, to publish a notification
prohibiting the custom of “Sukhra*” or “employment of
forced coolie A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. labour ” by the petty Sheikhs of Bahrein.
At the same time he pointed out that he had already warned those con
cerned on the subject, and that we were welcome to regard it as an accepted
fact that he did not recognize the practice in any way.
11. Before separating we agreed that it was of no use our meeting again
until Sheikh Ali had arrived and until the above conditions (1) and (2) had
been actually put into effect.
[A T o^.—It was necessary to decide hours of meeting a long while in advance as incle
ment weather made communication between Manama and Muharrag and between the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
and the ships exceedingly difficult and tedious all the time I was there and impeded our work
very much.]
12 . December 3rd.—Sheikh Ali did not return during the day, but we
heard after dark that he had just returned and was spending the night with
the Chief at Muharrag.
December Mb .—About 8 a.m, a bag of Rs. 1,000 was received at the
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. by the band of one of the Sheikh’s men. At 10 a.m. Sheikh Esa,
accompanied by Sheikh Ali and his son, Sheikh Earned, arrived from
Muharrag.
In spite of our agreement of 2nd instant that we would not meet until
conditions (1) and (2) had been fulfilled, they all obtained ingress to the
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Reception Room and sent word to me that they had come and wanted
to see me. I sent Captain Prideanx in to give Sheikh Esa my compliments
and to say that the compensation money, Rs. 1,000, had arrived safely and I
was much obliged for it, but that according to our previous agreement, the
ringleaders had to be produced or all Sheikh Alps servants paraded for identi
fication before I could have any further meeting with themselves.
Captain Prideaux brought back the reply that it was this question of the
production of the ringleaders that they wished to discuss with me; they were
willing it appeared to pay another Rs. 1,000 if Sheikh Ali’s servants could he
spared the corporal punishment.
As this Rs. 1,000 would merely have come out of Sheikh Esa’s pocket of
course I remained obdurate, and was eventually informed that Sheikh Ali had
gone to the town to collect his men. A little later 4 culprits were produced
and duly identified by Mr. Bahnson as having actually participated in the
assault <m him. I may mention here that, apart from bruises, the latter
received a very nasty wound on the head and narrowly escaped having his skull
fractured.
The four men having been brought and identified Sheikh Esa asked permis
sion to return to Muharrag as it was now getting late and left his son, Abdulla,
with instructions to have the chastisement of the men carried out in communi
cation with me. Before he took his departure it was agreed between us that I
would start the inquiry into the Arab-Persian affray case the following morning
and that he would send his son or "Vazier to represent him with instructions
to present before me any of his subjects whom I might wish to examine.
After his departure the matter of chastisement was proceeded with and
every possible obstruction was offered. The Sheikh’s Bazaar Master in
Manama who was the proper person to perform the operation, was sent for and
directed to bring his canes and executioner. He absolutely refused saying that
no canes could be procured and that it was more than he dared, to have any
hand in the punishment of Sheikh Ali’s men directly or indirectly.
Finally, I was obliged to send to the Commander of His Majesty’s Ship
Redbreast for a weapon, and two Arab bystanders or retainers of his own
were called upon by Sheik Abdulla to inflict the whipping.