'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎136] (163/204)

136
CHAPTER LVIII.
Deputation of Mr. T. C. Gaskin, lately Vice-Consul| Bushife, as Assist
ant 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. at Bahrein.
1899-1901.
468. The question of improving the arrangements for the discharge of the
external a ., May 1900, Nos. 88-107. local political duties in Bahrein was taken
, . . . , U P b y the Government of India side bv side
with the question of the reform of the customs administration. Colonel Meadf^
was of opinion that the appointment of a political officer should be distinct from
that of Director of the Customs. In this view the Government of India concurred
""y .9 0 ! one J; . e was asked t0 submit definite proposals as to the status pay
estabhshment, duties, etc., of the political officer to be appointed. This was done
in Colonel Meade's letter, No. I j8, dated 24th September 1899
, " 2 - 1 consider that the presence of an English officer is desirable at Bahrein in vie™
of the great increase in British interest which has taken place there of recent vears TV
whole trade of the place is virtually British; and the increase during the p.1st 20 vears
will be seen from our Trade returns during that period. Imports which in ^8,8
amounted to Rs. 22,29,177, stood at Rs. 88,27,6^0 in 1808 whilp Jrnnrfc I j - f 78
Rs. 21,81 ,995 in .878 to Rs. 7 9,40.880 in ^8. 5 These^gures, i Zk speaVrorthr
selves, and shew that Bahrein, being generally regarded as under British protection is
becoming more and more the emporium for the trade of the adjacent Arab Coa°t '
3. In 1881, Colonel Ross, writing * to the Government of India, observes that "a
Letter No. 203, dated the 14th October 1881. § 00(i dea l interest, commercial, quasi-commer-
do so, in the countries adjacent to the Gulf.' 3 ' Frelb^teimship CompanieL ^ngUs'Tand
westo^'p^ia 3' 0rg Thr d : th % 3tten f tion ° f officers is'directedt outh-
westot lersia, etc. . These remarks referred to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. eenerallv ■ h,. t I
think, they apply with special force as anticipating what has occurred f T iir ■ •
particular, and there is no doubt that the prediction has been fulfilled Our infcere^ ^
Bahrein are far more important than they were and, as the Government nf T^r nterests ln
other nations are gradually waking up to the importance of the place. ^ are aWa^e,
at Ba^rdn.^'^hdkh^Esau ^s^n'ol^man^vvho^du'rmCT'h^earlie^yearf^usecrf OUr t p0sition
his chief advisers are now Turk^or Freach TOs^^rin" h^S^'r ^
due, in part, to dislike to Agha Muhammed Rahim, who has for some v/ 1S f robabi )'
representative in the place. ' > ears, been our
resided ^nsU^ly.'f^ FirSt A l SSiStant Reside,lt
his people only see the Resident or his Assistant occasionaliv anH 8 '"" ^ the ^ h ' ef ^
quently, left in the hands of the Native A^ent who k „nr.J I and . . mu l ch m0re 13 conse-
duties', wdl^ZclTo^f Blitish E F n i?m S s h tfB^e^'Lea'dyX're 6 ' 't hiS "T 0lficial
are commencing to open up dealings with the p4ce andth/ „ K 6 0r ' hr . e ? W,,0
increased^ we are properly represfnted on the Island The presence oT'", ^
Will inspire the Chief with oreater mnfirT^n^^ tu u l P rese nce ot such an officer
and actions nf the representative of the Government of India in the , motives
Will, no doubt, follow, and the Sheikh will be obliged to attend ^ 0 - f"""?
advice ot our Government than he has been doin? of late Th. ™ k! r W1 es an ' 1
bp less interfered with and thev will knrmr „ . ri ghtsofour traders will
There will be fewer fraudulent transactions, in which B^fsh subS' 3 " 06 ^ redreS a'
Claims, whether .arising out of bu^'nes^ frDr>co^f r rltls 1 h are concerned,
be settled more ^rompfly and tliere wdl bp an ^ fr0m thefts ai >d .r 0l>berirSi wi|1
the Sheikh, and his officers and of the intricmoc V,' ^- s< I u eezingot British subjects by
and the Sbeikh, either over olml tem^et
PolitLl' ^t the b a u b t 0 I n e aSu^/d pS ShSI StZ.T t0 the the
of communication between the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. and the CK^f v • t |? e a ^ credlted channel
slrictly enforced, .nd he wjl] l«„ „