"تقارير إدارية ١٩٢٠-١٩٢٤" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٩] (٤١٢/٢٤٣)

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52 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE
Thereafter Shaik Abdulla aiopted an attitude^ of passive resistance to
Shaik Hamad's authority and- taking advantage of the influence of his mother
upon the Ruler, persistently frustrated all attempts of Shaik Hamad to improve
the administration and to restrain unruly members of the family.
This state of affairs continued until July, when the Political Agent was
able to assist a reconciliation between Shaiks Hamad and Abdulla. An
arrangement was arrived at whereby the latter benefitted financially from his
elder brother and received a promise of farther financial assistance in the event
of Shaik Hamad succeeding to the Shaik. The results have, so far, ^ been
satisfactory, in that Abdulla has ceased his opposition and family intrigues.
An unexpected result is that he is no longer on good terms with his mother,
who continues independently to influence the Ruler against Shaik Hamad.
This lady has certain parts of the Islands under her absolute control and makes
full use of her unlimited powers for oppression. She imprisons and punishes
at will, frequently without semblance of trial.
During the latter months of the year the Khalifeh family, with the excep
tion of Shaiks Hamad and Abdulla, openly reverted to their policy of oppres
sing the shiahs, who frequently applied to the Political Agent for redress,
which it was not in his power to directly afford them. Shaik Hamad although
ardently desirous of limiting these abuses cannot influence Shaik Easa, who in
his extreme age is completely dominated by his wife. Apart from these insur
mountable difficulties, the personal relations of the ruler with the Agency
have greatly improved during the year, but owing to his senility he is unfor
tunately incapable of discussing reasonably any important matter. ^ His deci
sions are invariably those of his wife and no reason can prevail. Business had
therefore to be conducted with Shaik Hamad, who however has no power to
carry out any decision he may arrive at and can seldom persuade Shaik Easa.
Allowing for his extremely difficult position, Shaik Hamad has behaved very
creditably.
T r ade. —During the early part of the year trade was abnormally depressed,
but revived later as a result of the improvement in the pearl market. This
was unexpected and obviated a great deal of anticipated distress among petty
traders.
Shipping. —The mail system which was dislocated in 1921 owing to
the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, has again become normal.
One foreign ship only, flying the American flag, visited the port of
Manameh during the year.
H. M. Ships Triad and Cyclawien visited Bahrain on several occasions.
Judicial—'Eighi hundred and fifty four civil suits and one hundred and
twenty three criminal cases were disposed of during the year, and in addition
two hundred and forty four petty cases were dealt with. The Court of His
Majesty's Political Agent was closed during the months of July, August and
September for recess.
The Joint Court has functioned with increasing efficiency, largely owing
to the fact that Shaik Hamad bin Easa, C.S.L,who sits jointly with the
Political Agent, is genuinely disposed to judge impartially. The reverse was
the case when Shaik Abdulla sat in the Court in 1921. Every c^se was then
unwarrantably obstructed.
There were a considerable number of diving disputes, but practically no
resort was made to the f Salifeh ' Court. Consisting as it does of one person,
notoriously corrupt and in the pay of the Nakhudas, divers prefer to drop their
cases rather than take them before it. They are thus entirely without redress.
The Chief Qadhi, Shaik Qasim binMehza, has satisfactorily disposed of the
large number of c Shara ' cases referred to him. He is now very aged and
there is no other Qadhi of any degree of reliability in Bahrain. The Ruler has
as yet taken no steps to attract to Bahrain a possible successor to Shaik
Qasim.
Municipality.- —The Municipality of Manameh has made steady progress
and much has been accomplished to improve the sanitation of the town and its
surroundings, Several new roads have been made and many of the principal