'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎577r] (57/72)

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Sd tL paZents mde Tr’om tC°H n b f ing do,le ^ Muhatmnad-al-Tawwil
thus ed Zw h bT„ s! “n. « T 0mS ' The enormous sum of money
in uence in BahrainTs^intZ weakened th em, and though their
hoforG Abdullah O isn Id bn? stl ‘ on ^ lh 1 e > T . are ma cb more easily handled than
f i • m 1 i v - -n 3 P ermitt ^ himself some most violent remarks
about his Monarch, which will doubtless reach the Royal ears.
* 81 i RTl , d C - a J der em P lo y^ of the Marconi Company
aimed 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 m Bm Sabid’s dominions to eighteen. 8
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’ble 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 oil 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 Ras 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 Politicnl Agent paid several visits to Qatar, two being in
connection with an emergency aerodrome near Dohah. The Shaikh had agreed
to this, subject to being granted an additional measure of protection, but when
his wish was acceded to he then produced other reasons for being unable to grant
it.
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 relations
with the Shaikh were restored.
86. Slavery .—Twenty slaves were manumitted during the year, employ
ment being found for some in the Bahrain Police. Nothing of interest occurred
in this connection during the year.
87. Climate .—The rainfall amounted to 2.70 inches, the year being some
what cooler than its predecessor. The most striking features were an excep
tionally calm January and autumn, the latter being very favourable to the
raddah.
88. Genera?.—The year ended with a more optimistic note than 1931, owing
to the improvement ini the local pearl market, and the Bahrain Government,
having won back in the divers’ riot the prestige they had lost over the agitations
of February, concluded the year in a stronger position than they have hitherto
enjoyed, despite their financial difficulties.
89. The year has on the whole been more satisfactory th.au 19ol, and the
inhabitants of Bahrain are possibly even better disposed to the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. than
before. His Excellency Shaikh Hamad bin Isa-Al-Khalifah is a loyal friend to
His Majesty’s ’Government and deserves well of them.
G. LOCH,
TAeut.-Colonel,
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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