"تقارير إدارية ١٩٢٠-١٩٢٤" [ظ‎‎٤‎٢] (٤١٢/٨٩)

66
administration report of the
irritation in a number of petty ways, chiefly by trying to persuade
gome of the ignorant foreigners to take their cases and complaints
to Sheikh Isa and his officials till at last the Sheikh was reminded
of the decision that his jurisdiction was limited to natives of
Bahrain, while all foreigners including Arabs from the neigh
bouring districts were under the Political Agent s jurisdiction as
British protected persons. Since then (November) there has
been no more attempt of this kind on the part of Sheikh Isa or
bis sons.
(4) A Nai U woman apparently flying from her husband who threatened
to murder her for alleged misconduct, took refuge m the Agency.
The Political Agent tried to have her protected by the Dosan
headman of the village of Budayya where her husband lived; but
as the headman did not accept the responsibility, she was given a
paper to show that she had sought protection of the Agency and
her complaint was to be enquired into, and forbidding any one
to molest her. She put up with some friends m Manamah where
her husband found her and on the pretence of making a recon
ciliation entered her compartment and murdered her with a knife.
The matter was reported to Sheikh Isa who refused to arrest the
murderer and his friends and strongly objected to the Political
Agent's action claiming that the woman was one of his own
subiects and as such should not have been given protection, etc.
The case was submitted to higher authorities. Ibis ga\e rise
to a petition which was prepared at the instigation of certain
disaffected persons including Sheikh Abdullah-bin-Isa signed only
by Arabs of Muharraq and addressed to Sir Percy Cox. ft re
ported to comnlain against the Political^ Agent, Major Dickson,
for so-called high-hinded actions like building an aerodrome and
blocking a public road, starting a Municipality with consequent
rates, and curtailing their liberties, etc., etc. Sheikh Isa was
led to support the petition which he sent to the Eesident with a
letter in much the same strain.
(5) At the instance of some of his subjects Bin Saud protested against
the 6 per cent, duty charged by Sheikh Isa on goods consigned to
Hasa and Qatif and demanded a rebate. When this was pointed
out to Sheikh Isa and a reasonable reduction suggested, he showed
much irritation and refused to allow any reduction. The matter
was submitted to Government and with some difficulty the Sheikh
finally agreed to charge 2 per cent, on such transit goods and
Rs 20 per bale of piee s-goods. This be aiso considers unfair and
due to the instigations of His Majesty's Government's representa-
tive.
III.—Victoria Memorial Hospital.
Assistant Surgeon G. K. Monani was in charge throughout the
number of cases treated as compared with the two previous years is as toilow
Year.
In-door*.
Out-doors.
Total.
1918
30
5,870
5,900
55
5,723
5,778
1920
54
4,738
4,792
IV.—The Political Agent's tours.
On the 29th January the Political Agent left for Hassa via ^i al . r '
retuvning on 17th February after visiting Bin Saud at his own request.