"الشيخ علي بن أحمد" [و‎‎٥] (٦٣٠/٩)

Cases of gross or repeated ill-treatment are sometimes dealt with even when
the slaves concerned are admittedly domestic, but except under an enlightened
British protectorate of long standing I fear that any peremptory attempt to
stamp out a custom which has the sanction of Islam would meet with
determined opposition.
7. I now beg to offer some suggestions which may be held partially to
meet the case.
Hitherto we have been represented at Bahrein either by a native a^ent or by
a junior gazetted officer. 0
It has been the custom for both of these to refer cases of manumission to
the Residency. Now however that the status of our representative has been
enhanced I see no reason why he should not be authored, as the Political-Agent
|at Maskat is, to issue certificates himself after due inquiry and with the time
limit suggested in the foregoing paragraph ; namely from 1895.
At Maskat the procedure is for the Political Agent to record the evidence
and then send the slave with the Agency Munshito the Sultan for such inquiry as
the latter may desire to make. If he can produce proofs that the claim is not
bona fide he does so, otherwise he has to acquiesce in the man being given a
manumission paper. It has apparently not been usually the case to refe?to the
Sheikh at Bahrein. I think that ordinarily the local ruler should be consulted, but
then Sheikh Esa is not an ordinary character. I solicit the views of Government
on this point.
With his hands strengthened in the way I suggest and assisted by the
personal influence which he should in time gain over the Sheikh of Bahrein our
Political Agent will, I should hope, be able to keep him reasonably up to his
obligations under his Slave Trade eligagements with us.
% 8. Referring to paragraph 15 of the Political Agent's letter I am not sure
that I follow h:s reasonins.
If we wish to let the people of Bahrein know that we do not connect
customs reform with new departures under the Slave Treaties, surely it would be
fatal to the success of our policy to preface cur overtures in regard to the former
question with drastic reforms in connection with the latter.
^ Once we have the customs under our direct or indirect control, or have a
Vazior appointed by Government, we shall be in a much stronger'position to
carry Jut such reforms. Until then I think we should proceed very cautiously
and that the present requirements of the case can best be met in the way I have
suggested.
No. 173, dated Bahrein, the 26th May 1905.
From— Captain F. B. Prideaux . Political Agent, Bahrein,
T o—The Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire. *
I have the honour to address you on the subject of the Institution of Slavery
as it exists in Bahrein. The manner in which the old-standing agreements in
this connection are disregarded by the Chief and his subjects is in my opinion
extremely unsatisfactory, and I think the time has come when we should at least
take definite steps to ensure the due observance of his obligations by Sheikh
Esa, even if we do not introduce into these islands the more desirable system
which now exists in Zanzibar.
2. I attach in abbreviated form for ease of reference such extracts from
existing agreements between the Government of India and past Rulers of
Bahrein as are relevant to this question. Reading the paragraphs alone, and
without taking into consideration the effect of our agreement with Persia, which is
presumably intended to be analogous and which is certainly considered to be so
by the people of Bahrein, one would perhaps infer that it is only in the case ot
raw slaves, torn from their homes in Africa and other countries,'such as Balu
chistan, that the measures for protection have been instituted.
3. In fact, however,-it has long been recognized by the people of Bahrein
that there is great risk in purchasing new slaves even from the people of Katar