Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎507r] (1018/1028)

35
The year has unfortunately been distinguished by a large number of
murders and robberies.
After the murder of Subedar Niaz Ali and the consequent disband
ment of the Levy Corps a series of outrages on villages in the islands occur
red. The perpetrators have not yet been brought to book, but the suspicion
which at first rested on sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. of the disbanded Levy appears to have been
unfounded. The outrages appear to have been the work of a gang of
Hasawi desperadoes, encouraged by the general feeling of nervousness en
gendered by the incidents of 4th August, and the temporary disappearance
of any armed and disciplined body from the islands.
The arrival of His Majesty’s Ships “Triad” and “Cyclamen” and the
landing of Naval parties at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. restored a certain amount of confi
dence which was increased by the arrival on 18th September of a Detach
ment of 3/16th Punjab Regiment under Lt. R. C. Robinson. The lawless
ness however still continued and culminated in an attempt on the life of
Shaikh Hamad on 13th October and a determined attack on Sanabis village
on 3rd November in the course of which one villager was killed while one
of the attackers who appeared to be a Hasawai was shot dead and one wound
ed. As a result of this attack a small irregular force of Arabs for service
outside the town of Manama was raised and placed under the command of
Ali Qumri at one time Amir of Manama. Since the institution of this
force there have been no more outrages.
Trade .—Trade has, in general, been depressed as a result of the fall
in the pearl market upon which the prosperity of Bahrein almost entirely
depends. Som^ bankruptcy and distress have resulted among the smalk t
traders.
The import of motor cars continues steadily. There are in all about
140 cars including four motor lorries plying in the islands. The majority
of these are Lords but some merchants are contemplating the import of the
more expensive higher power types, mainly American.
An interesting development in native craft is the application of a
British Marine Engine, the Kelvin, to the locally built craft. Th er f are 14
such craft working commercially and several of these are engaged exclu
sively on cargo work with the mainland.
Shi'jypinn .—The number of visits paid by ships to the port of Manama
during the year was as Mows : —
British 103.
7.
German
There was a regular weekly mail service from India and a fortnightly
service from Iraq to India.
Judicial. The number of civil suits filed in the Court of the Political
. . " j_T A ^4^ Vm n ^ v»£»rl onrl CO-UOn t.'VT-QPVPn
attempted murder men ... deported doting ft, ye.r under ft.
provisions of the Bahrein Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. .