Page 395 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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Barlcot bat tho Innediate reaction to the introduction of
a second banking house v/as the improvement, from the
customers' point of view, In rates, and an unusual keenness
to do business on tho part of the Eastern Bank Limited.
(11) Eastern Bank Limited

Tho business of tho Eastern Bank consisted chiefly of
financing tho requirements of the oil companies operating in
tho area and the Service units stationed at ifuharraq and
Manama. For this and other general banking purposes they

imported £s«l,68,50,000 in notes and silver and sold on India
Jb.20,26,745 and to local .merchants Indian funds • amounting to
Ss« 53,25,000o It is interesting to not© that of the fifty
doe'euaentary credits handled by this bank covering the shipments
of goods to Bahrain twenty of them amounting to *£.15,000

covered goods from tho United Kingdom, twelve of them amounting
to £.36,000 covered goods from the United states of America,
while six of them esountlng to Hs*98,000 covered goods from India.

23. giI£S£2 OV^TvriAS AT~"A?S cqp.pohatxojt
The increase in tho number of services both eastward and
. westward has been considerable and it is not unusual for three
to four Sunderland flying boats to night stop in Bahrain.
Unfortunately no proper accommodation exists for the passengers

so that much discomfort has to be accepted by the many senior
and distinguished civilians and Service officers travelling
by air* The Royal Air Force pier, which is used for the

operations of bhe British Overseas Airways corporation, was
extended to carry a motorable road, and terminal buildings
were constructed to hold a restaurant and servicing offices
on the sea-end* The Corporation's accommodation on the

landing ground of Ituharraq Island still leaves much to be
desired but it is understood that they are moving from their
present weatherboard hut to more substantial and imposing
quarters early in the coming year*

/24.