'دليل الخليج، الجزء الأول، مواد سياسية وتاريخية، ملخص شؤون البحرين، ١٨٥٤-١٩٠٤' [‎١‎٢‎١] (٢٠٤/١٤٨)

121
CHAPTER L.
Murder of the Arab Chief, Sultan bin Salema, by the Amamera tribe
of Bahrein, 1895. Claims of his family to his property, 1895-99.
432. Soon after the events noted in chapter the Sheikh of the Al bin Ali
tribe Sultan bin Salema, was murdered.
External . May i 99, os. 70 71. He had remained in his boat alone when
his followers landed at Ras Tanura and was seen by three men of the
Amamera tribe of Bahrein, who had also landed and met Sultan's followers on
shore. Hearing that the Sheikh was alone in his boat, they went alongside and
shot him dead, after which they re-embarked and went to Bahrein.
433. At this time H.M.S. Pigeon was at Bahrein, and the Com
mander, fearing that the incident would give rise to fresh complications,
communicated with Sheikh Esau, through the Residency Agent, asking him to
detain the murderers, if found in Bahrein, pending a reference to Colonel Wilson,
Political Resident in the Persian Gulf. Sheikh Esau, in reply, denied all
knowledge of them, but promised to make enquiries.
434. In December 1895 a petition was received at the Busliire Residency from
the son and mother of Sultan bin Salema in which they insinuated that he had
been murdered at the instigation of Sheikh Esau, who had also, they stated, dis-
possessed them of their property in Bahrein.
435. Before taking any steps in the case, Colonel Wilson reported the.
murder to the Government of India in his telegram, dated the coth December
1895, and as the matter was left to his discretion, he subsequently wrote to
Sheikh Esau, urging him to do justice according to Arab law. The Sheikh in
reply promised to do so, but did nothing. To anticipate events, we may men
tion here that in December 1899 Colonel Meade received a further petition
from Sultan's mother and followers, a number of whom came to see bim at
Bushire. They repeated their grievances against Sheikh Esau, and demanded
justice, urging that, as we protected him from his enemies, we should see that he
did what was right and just.
436. In reporting the facts, Colonel Meade observed and suggested (letter
No. 26, dated 12th March 1899; :—
" The matter is not one in which the British Government are directly concerned, and
mv predecessor appears to have taken it up in consequence of a report that it was thought
Sheikh Esan had instigated the murder. If we had done nothing, it might have been sajd
that we tacitly acquiesced in the Sheikh's conduct, and Cobnel Wilson s interference was
probably taken with the object of removing this impression. As the Sheikh had not fu-
filled his promiseto in Colonel Wilson, Ipropose, if the Government of India approve, urging
him to do so, and in any case I think he ought to see that the deceased Sheikh s family are
not interfered with as regards the produce of their landed property in Bahrein. It appears
impolitic as well as unjust for the Sheikh to allow this.'
AW The Government of India agreed in Colonel Meade's^ conclusions in
the matter and authorized him to proceed as he proposed. (Foreign Department
letter No. 615-E. A., dated 24th April 1899.)
[C943FD]