"ملف 19/175 البحرين - تجارة اللؤلؤ" [و‎‎٣‎٠] (٨٣/٥٨)

4.
the merchants v/ho would make the actual payments, and would
arrange for a deputation consisting ot 6 divers to meet them on
konday to hear the dicision.
Bel^rave was present at the latter end of this interview
and he and Shaikh Hamad departed together for the Customs House,
where they had some work. On arrival there thej 1 ound the iiOO
divers assembled waiting for their answer. Instead of speaking
to them himself Shaikh Hamad who was anxious to leave for his
hawking sent them a message bji some saying
that he would meet 6 of their representatives on Monday and give
them his reply. He himself drove off in his motor for Bukhair.
^.fter his departure the 200 divers walked into the kanama market
and commenced a little very looting.
I have not got an estimate of the damage done, "but it does
not appear to have been very serious.
As soon as Belgrave got to know of what was happening he sent
word to Robinson who marched a squad of his men into the bazaar
whereupon all was peace.
In the meantime I was holding the annual majlis at the agency
and in the middle of the congratulatory speeches ray Interpreter
brought me news that "the divers are looting the Bazaar". Parke
was present at the .agency and I told Shaikh Ali to inl orm him.
He promptly went off to the Customs House and arrived in time
to see the divers sail for liluharraq. It chanced that a guard ot
his armed police intended for Muharraq was all ready to sail.
He despatched them at once with orders to prevent mischief.
The diners on arrival at Luharraq went to the house of an
usurer, helped themselves to his rice and destroyed his records.
They were on the point of marching down the bazaar when Parke's
guard turned up, v«rhereu|)on they a'll ran away. Six were arrested
and being foreigners have been sent to me for disposal.
These are the facts so far as I have been able to ascertain
them at present. The divers seem/ to have behaved lixe naughty
schoolboys rather than men determined to be nasty, but I have no
doubt that we shall obtain a large nuraoer of false claims as well
as a few true ones.
It seems to be the general opinion that if Shaikh Hamad had
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