'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎541r] (57/73)

49
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ceased to import for him, the work now being done by Muhammad-al-Tawwil
and the payments made from the Hasa Customs. The enormous sum of money
thus tied np wnth Bin Sa’ud has undoubtedly weakened them, and though their
influence in Bahrain is still very strong they are much more easily handled than
before. Abdullah Qusaibi has permitted himself some most violent remarks
about his Monarch, which will doubtless reach the Royal ears.
81. Messrs. Boucicault and Calder employee's of the Marconi Company
arrived on the 26th April and paid one or two other visits to Bahrain. They
had experienced great difficulty with their Najdi personnel, and mentioned the
incident of a simple private of the line who had been promoted mechanic for
meritorious behaviour. They erected stations at Jubail and Qatif bringing the
number in Bin Sa’ud’s dominions to eighteen.
82. Muhammad-al-Tawwil studiously avoided the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. on his visits to
Bahrain, as do almost all Najdi officials, but visited the Hon’hie the Political
Resident on one occasion on board a Mail Steamer. Bin Sa’ud had apparently
tacitly accepted the claim of the Bahrain Government to two per cent, tranship
ment dues on all cargo passing through Bahrain waters, for Muhammad-al-
Tawwil was instructed to pay (3rd September) on a consignment of 12,000 bags
of rice and 600 bags of sugar that came through for the mainland, but later in
conjunction with Muhammad-al-Marzuk of Karachi, he arranged for the
“ Ahmedi ” to take some 20,000 bags of rice direct to the mainland. The Bahrain
Government declined to allow this steamer to land Bahrain cargo, which was
overcarried to the mainland. Tawwil, with an eye no doubt to future ship
ments allowed it to be stored free and brought back to Bahrain without payment
of any duty, and is said to have erected a Customs shed at Has Tanaurah, and
to have offered merchants free transhipments should they bring other consign
ments there.
83. Bahrain is a Naboth’s vineyard for the King of Sa’udi Arabia.
84 Qatar.- —The" 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. paid several visits to Qatar two being in
connection with an emergency aerodrome near Dohah. The Shaikh had agreed
t 0 this subject to being granted an additional measure of protection, but vhen
his ^sh was aeeedod tohe then produced other reasons for being unable to grant
85 The 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. successfully closed the cases which had caused
trouble with the Shaikh at the end of the proceeding year, and pleasant relatio .
with the Shaikh were restored. t .
n/> Qinvpni Twenty slaves were manumitted during the wai, emp or
ment being found fo^ some in the Bahrain Police. Nothing of interest occurred
in this connection during the year.
«7 r/,We-The rainfall amounted to 2.70 inches, the year being some-
o7. LUmate. rut arrikinj? features were an excep-
atww —<» “•
”*£ General .—The »» » ..««
to the improvement mi the local pearl m<\r , the agitations
having won back in the divers’ not the preshge md k»st o
of February, concluded the year m a stronger position
enjoyed, despite their financial difficu ies. . -.qoi -i fhe
_ ' 89. The year has on the ^?'® bee "XtkfdTspo1e7to the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. than
inhabitants of Bahrain are pessi i > er Al-Khalifah is a loyal friend to
before. His Excellency Shaikh Hamad bmlsa-APKhaiita
His Majesty’s Government and aesenes vcl • ^ L 0CH,
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. , Bahrain.
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