IOR/L/PS/20/C241

The volume, stamped ‘Secret’ on the front cover and frontispiece, is part 1 (historical and political materials) of a précis of Bahrain (spelt Bahrein throughout) affairs for the years 1854-1904. It was prepared by Judge Jerome Antony Saldanha of the Bombay Provincial Civil Service, and published in 1904 by the Government of India Foreign Department, Simla, India.

The contents of the volume run as follows:

Part 1, entitled Political events from 1854 to 1870, including: a brief history of Bahrain (1783-1853); Mahomed bin Abdullah bin Ahmed’s [Muḥammad bin ‘Abdullāh bin Aḥmad] threatened attack against Bahrain, his piracies and expulsion from Damaum [Dammām], 1859; tyranny of the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Muḥammad bin ‘Abdullāh Āl Khalīfah, his unfriendly attitude to the British agent, and to British subjects and their trade, 1858; Mahomed bin Khalifa’s [Muḥammad bin Khalīfah] blockade of Wahabi [Wahhābī] ports, and subsequent signing of a perpetual treaty of peace with the British, and Turkish protests against British proceedings, 1861; events during 1861-66, including the restoration of a captured buggalow [boat] to Muḥammad bin Khalīfah, ill-treatment of Indian subjects; Persian protests, Wahhābī claims to Bahrain; violation of the maritime truce by Bahrain and Abuthabi [Abu Dhabi], Ali-bin-Khalifa [‘Alī bin Khalīfah] becomes ruler of Bahrain, 1867-68; Persian claims of sovereignty over Bahrain, Persian protests to Britain, 1869; attack on Bahrain by Muḥammad bin Khalīfah and Nasir bin Mubarak, murder of ‘Alī bin Khalīfah, Esau-bin-Ali [‘Īsá bin ‘Alī] proclaimed ruler of Bahrain, 1869; Persian and Turkish protests against British proceedings at Bahrain in 1869.

2. International status and British protection, 1871-1904, including: Turkish expedition to Nejd, 1871-72; protest by the Ottoman Porte against alleged acts of British sovereignty in Bahrain, 1872-73; Turkish movements in Katar [Qatar], and advice to the ruler of Bahrain to not become involved in Qatar affairs, 1873; proceedings of Abdul Rahman bin Feysal [‘Abd al Rahman bin Fayṣal], 1874-75; fortifications at Menamah [Manama], and the Porte’s project to erect a lighthouse at Manama; the Beni Hajir attack on Zobarah [Zubara], retaliation by the ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī; aggressive Turkish policy and the establishment of a Turkish province on the Arab littoral, 1875-76; revolt in Hasa [Al-Hasa], 1879-81; threat of attack on Bahrain by Nasir bin Mobarik and Shaikh Jasim [Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad ]of Bidaa [Al-Bidda], policy in relation to Shaikh Jāsim and the Turkish Government, 1881; Turkish intentions to establish a coal depot at Bahrain, and Bahrain agreement with the British Government to not have dealings with foreign powers, 1880; conclusion of an agreement between Bahrain and Britain, 1892; occupation of Zubara by the Al-bin-Ali tribe, with the support of Turkey and Shaikh Jāsim, 1895; establishment of the American Arabian Mission in Bahrain, 1892, 1899-1901; questions over the establishment of the German firm Wonckhaus at Bahrain; foreign enterprises in relation to the pearl fisheries, 1863-1904; proposed consular representation of France at Bahrain, 1904.

3. Internal affairs and British policy, including: Shaikh ‘Īsá’s imprisonment of the mail agent, 1873; murder of a member of the Khalīfah family by the brother of the ruler of Bahrain, 1877; death of Shaikh Ahmed-bin-Ali-bin-Khalifa, 1888; murder of the Arab chief Sultan-bin-Salema, 1895; question of redress for outrages committed by Bahrainis against British or British-protected subjects, 1897-1900; proposed establishment of a branch of the Imperial Bank of Persia, 1900; prohibition of alcohol into Bahrain, 1900; proposed hospital in Bahrain, in commemoration of Queen Victoria, 1901-03; proposals to recognise Shaikh Hamed [Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah] as successor designated, and to appoint a British Political Agent to Bahrain, 1899-1900; deputation of Mr TC Gaskin [John Calcott Gaskin] as Assistant Political Agent at Bahrain, 1899; proposed reform of Bahrain customs, 1901-04; construction of the Agency building at Bahrain, 1901-03.

The appendices are as follows: A) A Genealogical table of Bahrain ruling family; B) a translation of an agreement between Hussein Ali Mirza and Lieutenant William Bruce, Resident of Bushire, 8 August 1822; C) translation of a preliminary treaty between Britain and the rulers of Bahrain, 1820, signed by Major-General William Keir; D) terms of a friendly convention entered into between Shaikh Muḥammad bin Khalīfah, ruler of Bahrain, and Captain Felix Jones, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, 31 May 1861; E) translation of the agreement entered into between the British Government and ‘Alī bin Khalīfah, ruler of Bahrain, 1868; F) translation of an agreement between the Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Ross, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī, the ruler of Bahrain, 22 December 1880; G) translation of an agreement signed by the ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh ‘Īsá bin ‘Alī, 13 March 1892; H) Government correspondence dating from 1901, relating to the opening by the German man Robert Wankhaus [or Wonckhaus] of a commercial office in Bahrain, and the question raised of foreign jurisdiction in Bahrain.