File 4673/1919 Pt 1 ‘Persian Gulf:- Visit to England of the son of the Sheikh of Bahrein + party. General arrangements + proceedings. Incidence of cost.’ [‎252r] (481/494)

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Note on Bahrain.
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Tlie ruling chief, Sir Sheikh ’Isa bin Ali al Khalifah, has ruled Bahrain
lor 51 years. He is bound to us by a short treaty stipulating that in
return for British protection he will have no dealings with any other Power
and allow no foreigners to take up land without our consent. He has
been absolutely loyal to us during the war, and entertains the greatest
respect and admiration lor His Majesty and the British Empire.
Besides the above treaty many agreements have been reached enabling
us to exercise fairly efficient control. He has three sons —Hammad, the
heir apparent, Muhammad, the middle son, and Abdulla, the third.
His son, the present visitor to London, Sheikh Abdulla bin ’Isa al
Khalifah, C.I.E., is the business head and most enlightened of the three
sons, and it is through him we transact practically all our agreements
and business with the Ruler. For his able services in this connection he
was a-warded the C.I.E.
Apart from his business qualities, he is very fond of sport of all
kinds, especially hawking and horse-racing, and owns some good horses,
of which he is extremely fond.
The Island is noted for its pearl fisheries. The last two years have
been very good, and produced pearls of good quality and in large
quantities. Very good prices have been given in Bombay, especially
this year. 3-5,000 boats are employed in the fishery; the divers come
from all parts of Arabia.
Apart from the pearl fisheries, Bahrain does a thriving trade witli
the Arab mainland, being the port of Nejd, Hasa and Qatar; also with
Persia, Koweit and Muskat. This trade is principally in tea, coffee,
piecegoods, rice and flour.
The Island is wealthy, and the merchants open-handed with their
money, and have lately subscribed large sums for a most excellently built
pier which has improved unloading and loading conditions considerably.
They also subscribed to the Victoria Hospital, and are always ready to
put money down for any object for the public good.
Bahrain, however, is very backward in many respects.
It has no schools, except one very small one run bj r the American
Mission.
A bad water supply, no electric light, no municipality, and the
town is very dirty. ^
Sheikh Tsa asked that his son might visit England in order to
convey to His Majesty tokens of his esteem and friendship and con-
nratulations of the victorv of British arms over the common foe. He
has sent a gold sword as a token of respect, which he hopes His Majesty
will do him the honour to accept.
400^
IO SS 161 50 7/19