"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎١‎٠] (٣٩٦/٢٢٦)

POE THE YEAH 191?.
47
CHAPTER X.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR THE BAHRAIN AGENCY FOR
THE YEAR 1917.
Charge of the Political Agency was held by Captain P. G. Loch through-
p er80nne] out the year. Assistant Surgeon Monani
returned from nine months' sick leave on
September 15th, and Assistant Surgeon A. J. Kapasi returned to India.
Relations with Shaikh ' Isa have continued satisfactory with the exception
j a i irv. rr u v* -i ^ w0 m 3tters. One was an endeavour
Shaikh 'Isa and A1 Khahfah iamily. ^ .i i £ ou *1 u jt x
on the part of Shaikh Isa to assert his
longed for right of jurisdiction over Hasawis and Najdis. In this case the
rudder of a sailing boat belonging to an Hasawi was seized by the Shaikh's
order to put pressure on the man in connection with a debt. On
representations being made to Shaikh ' Isa he somewhat reluctantly restored
the rudder and the case was dealt with in the Political Agent's Court.
The Shaikh brought up the question of jurisdiction but it Mas explained
to him that the matter had, as he knew, been referred to the Government
of India, that, owing to their war pre-occupations they had no leisure
to deal with it at the present time and that he must in the meantime
refrain from upsetting the existing state of affairs. The second matter was
the imprisonment of two Persians for over a week by the Amir (head official)
of Muharraq by order of the Shaikh. The Shaikh was away when this was
brought to the notice of the Political Agent and the Amir refused to send the
two men over to the Agency ; on being strongly pressed, however, he did so.
The Shaikh was asked to furnish an immediate explanation of the occurrence
and stated that he had issued the order on the eve of going out on a hunting
expedition and had forgotton about the men. About the same time the
release of a negress from the lock up of the Amir of Manamah had to be demand
ed. A frank discussion of the incidents has led to complete understanding and
it is hoped that no further cases of the kind will take place.
Shaikh Hamad, the nominated successor of Shaikh ' Isa, has been friendly
and seems to be taking rather more interest in affairs than formerly.
Shaikh Abdullah, C.I.E., the third son of Shaikh 'Isa, often does busi
ness on behalf of his father. He is very intelligent and a thoroughly nice
person to deal with ; much of the present smoothness of relations between the
Agency and the Shaikh is due to him.
Assistant Surgeon A. J. Kapasi was in charge of the Hospital from
January to September 14th, and Assistant
victoria Memorial Hospital. Surgeon G. K. Monani from September
15th to the end of the year. The numbers of cases treated as compared with
the two previous years, are as follows :—
Tear. In-doors. Out-doors. Total.
1915 . . 49 5,665 5,714
1916 . . 34 5,057 5,091
1917 . . 84 6,035 6,069
Captain P. G. Loch, Political Agent,
Political Agent's Tour. accompanied by Mrs. Loch, visited the
following places on tour :—
April 1st to 5th. 'Ali, Rifa'ash Sharqi, Jabal Dukhan and Sakhir.
July 7th to 9th. Ras Tanurah, Qatif and 'Oqair.
December 21st to 27th. 'Ali, Hanaini. Sakhir, 'Ain al qar and
Earsiyah.
The Shaikh has not yet appointed a quarantine Medical Officer in place of
Dr. E. K. Boomla. The Assistant Sur-
piague and Quarantine. geon in charge of the Victoria Memorial
Hospital carried out the duties of the Quarantine Medical Officer in addition
to his own duties during the year.
In March an epidemic of plague broke out which lasted till June there
were 1,393 deaths from plague of which ten were of persons who had been