IOR/R/15/2/978

The file covers the appointment, dismissal, pay, and leave of members of the Menial Establishment of the Political Agency, Bahrain, including persons holding positions or wishing to be appointed as sweeper, peon, farrash/farash [ferash], launch engineer, launch driver, khalasi, launch crew member, member of Hospital Establishment, ghulam [gholam], dhobi, office boy, telephone operator and gardener.

The papers include office orders recording resignations, disciplinary issues and other matters; certificates (references); papers relating to travel (including deck passage); requests for pay rises; papers relating to the payment of gratuities; correspondence from potential employers of ex-Agency staff in Bahrain; correspondence about payment of an eye test fee for a driver; papers concerning uniform/livery; statements of pay of Agency farrashes; lists of farrashes and other Agency staff; medical reports issued by the American Mission Hospital and related correspondence; papers relating to disciplinary matters; personal letters; and notes containing personal remarks.

The issue of the payment of dearness allowances for menial staff, arising from rises in the cost of living following the outbreak of war, is frequently discussed in correspondnce between the Political Agent, Bahrain, the office of the Political Resident, Bushire, and the Government of India, supported by notes on the prices of foodstuffs.

Many letters from members of the Menial Establishment are written in Arabic or signed in Arabic; the letters are usually accompanied by English translations. Some items are signed by means of thumbprints.

The date range of the correspondence in this file is 2 December 1940 to 17 April 1945. The overall date range is supplied by the note of a conversation at the front of the file and an entry in the notes at the rear of the file.