ملف ٢٢٩٧/ ١٩١٩ "تقارير شهرية للمقيمية البريطانية في الخليج الفارسي. ١٩١٢-١٩٢٠." [ظ‎‎٤‎٩‎٤] (١٠٤٤/٩٩٣)

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Highness the Sultan to deal with. It is understood that the case will now
come before a punchayat composed of Hindus and Muhammadans choosen by
the parties. Ali Khan is said to be confident that the result of this panch will
be that Wram will be deported from Maskat.
8. Two steamers arrived during the month and landed the arms and
ammunition noted against them :—
S.S. “ Foyle ” 25 cases rifles and 434 cases ammunition.
S.S. “ Griqua ” 28 cases rifles and 107 cases ammunition.
9. Many Persian have visited Maskat during the month to buy arms.
They reported that a very lucrative business was being done on the other side
of the crater as, owing to Russian aggression, the country had been aroused
from its lethargy and every Persian of condition was anxious to possess himself
of a good rifle ; such a rifle purchased in Maskat for R80 was fetching in Persia
90 Tomans.
10. While at Sohar recently, the Political Agent was informed that one
Meshedy, a Persian in the service of the Wali there, had 400 rifles and 30,000
rounds ammunition ready for shipment by a sailing boat.
11. A new Lee-Enfield magazine rifle, bore '303, has been imported into
Maskat by Ali Khan. It is nitro proof and is being sold for £24 whereas its
price at home is £14 only.
12. The Political Agent made a short tour to Oman ports during the
month in the R.I.M.S. “ Minto ” kindly
Movements of His Majesty's Representative. ^ by the genior Naval
Officer in the Persian Gulf. In the course of his tour he visited Kuriyat,
Sur, Masna Sohar and Shenas.
13. 1st January, the proclamation day
was celebrated at the Agency as usual.
14. A Kuwait boom “ Ambar Towil ” and property of one Shahin bin
Ghanim was reported to have been wrecked and lost with her cargo of dates in
the vicinity of Maskat. Of the 44 souls on board only 7 had reached Sib and
Barka.
Bahrain.
Miscellaneous.
1st to 31st January.
15. Shaikh Hamad bin Shaikh Isa, with his brother Shaikh Abdullah and
followers, returned from Lingah on 8th
Local Officials. January in S.S. " Pandua.” On his land^
ing the Manama shore battery fired a salute of 5 guns. The “ Pandua ” is said
to have been flying Sheikh Isa’s flag in their honour.
16. The Arabs of Bahrain stimulated by the success of the subscription
^ raised in Kuwait for the founding of a
Local ovemment. madrasah, have now begun seriously to
discuss their own long-cherished scheme for creating a similar institution in
Bahrain. Considerable diversity of opinion on the subject has however already
manifested itself. The question of site is in dispute as between Manama
and Muharraq. More serious is the difference of opinion as to the class of
education which the school should provide. The more advanced want to include
western as well as eastern subjects of education. But there is an influential
True Blue party including the Shaikhs, Kazis and Mullahs who would exclude
all but moslem theological subjects and confine the vehicle of teaching to the
Arabic language. They have Shaikh Isa on their side and are likely to prevail,
should the scheme ever assume a practical form.
Yusuf Kanoo has from the first been an active promoter and has had a
number of abortive interviews with Shaikh Isa. On the 2nd January, however,
he is said to have had a long interview in the course of which the Shaikh
promised to assemble a meeting of notables to discuss the matter in his presence,
and to urge them to collect funds. He gave it clearly to be understood however,
that he would withdraw his support if it was proposed to teach foreign
languages,