Page 141 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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oranges liave been grown. As the person responsible for bis engagement, the
Political Agent viewed his departure w’itli regret, but there is little doubt that
lie has done good considering the exiguous means at his disposal. The Ousaibis
are now the principal exponents of improved farming, and the remark of Abdul
Aziz to the Political Agent on the dawn of new ideas is worth repealing. The
Jirsl year ho used manure, he said, it was given to him free, the second he had
to pay a small price for it, but this year, now that its value has been discovered,
he had had to pay a stilt price for it. The Qusaibis’ action in cleaning up their
•dale gardens and getting rid of useless trees had be<5n observed by their neigh­
bours with interest and will undoubtedly be followed.
28. The date harvest was better than last year, and prices on the whole were
higher.
29. Customs. The Customs revenue amounted to Rs. 6,14,594. The
decline in commodity prices was principally responsible for this decline.
30. The Bahrain Government introduced a 7] per cent, duty on luxuries in
place of the former 5 per cent, from the 6th May and later raised1 this to 10 pol­
ecat. with a 15 per cent, duty on liquor and tobacco on the 31st December.
31. Municipalities.—Both Municipalities do good work, though their means
become more and more straitened.
32. Both Municipalities, particularly that of Manamah, have able Secre­
taries, and only lack of funds prevents more rapid development. An effort was
made to prevent the Manamah sea front being used as a latrine, but much still
remains to be done in this matter.
33. A road has been made inland, parallel to the Manamah sea road, at
the instance of Captain Prior, and its value lias already been perceived.
34. Both Municipalities still continue to interest themselves in many
matters quite beyond their purview, but little harm is done and they provido
useful safety valves, and on the whole do their work 'very well.
35. The Manamah Municipal Gardens now have the nucleus of a zoo,
including a dejected vulture, who is popularly believed to be an eagle !
36. The Manamah Municipality halved' the price of ice and sold a far larger
quantity than the year before to the great benefit of the public. They will only
purchase ice in the hottest weather, however, and a shamal will stop all demand:
for a day or two, though with better times a taste for it will undoubtedly
develop. ‘ Screcm * is now a good Arabic word.
37. PnWc Works.—Owing to financial stringency no works of any magni­
tude were carried out this year.
38. 'Education.—Six boys’ schools and two girls’ schools were in existence
on the 1st January. On the 2nd October when the schools reopened after the
summer vacations the Mnnamah Sunni’and Shiah boys’ schools wore amalga­
mated. It was feared at one time that this amalgamation would lead to an
agitation bv the Shinlis but nothing untoward happened.
39. 560 boys and 178 girls were on the rolls on the 1st January and G23 boys
and 190 girls on the rolls on the 31st December.
40. Trade.—The pearl trade ended the year with a 25 per cent, to 30 per
cent, improvement, improved prices compensating for a disappointing yield. Had
the decline of the three preceding years continued half the Islands would have
gone bankrupt, but the close of the year found men willing to lend again and
a more cheerful note prevailed. The big buyers maintain that there has been
no equivalent rise in the European market, but as buyers it is not in their
interest to think otherwise. There is little doubt that the exceptionally calm
autumn greatly helped the Radda, or closing season, and many (fivers are said
to have done much better during this period, when they can dive with whom they
please, than in the main season or ‘ giiaus ’ when they must dive for their
nakbudnlis. It will be some time before their earnings are transformed into
increased imports, but benefit to trade should come.
41. Tu this successful radda, Bahrain seems to have benefited more than her
neighbours, as the mainland- boats, who will not go out to deep water once the
main season is over have little good to report.
42. The total value of trade amounted to Rs. 1,69,82.270 as compared with
Rs. 1,71.20.220 in the preceding venr. The total value of imports amounted- to
Rs. 1,05,82,710 as against Rs. 1,04,61,8S0 and tho exports to Rs. 63,99,560 as