Page 142 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

46

Against Rs. 66,58,340 for the preceding year. The figures of exports arc not
accurate since few of tlio pearls exported are declared at their proper value.
and those carried on the person are not declared at all. The figures for'
specie also are not reliable.
43. Industry.—-The tile industry closed down, being unable to dispose of
accumulated stocks. The tiles are good and yeiy cheap, but the times aro
against the purchase of anything but necessities.
44. Ahmad bin Yusuf-Fakliru, with the encouragement of the Agency, has-
opened a Morris Agency and has sold A Minor and two Cowley saloons! The
springing of the latter is an.immense improvement on the old model, and if only
touring models wore available he would do much better. The more expensive
models have no sale at present.
45. Athletics.—The .interest in football continues to increase and some of
the young Al-Khalifah join in the gafne/ Cricket also has some devotee?,
principally Indians or young men educated in India.
46. Boat Building and Shipping—The total number of launches plying for
hire on the 31st December was 62.
47. Sixteen sailing vessels were built during tiie year as compared with
thirty-two built during 1931.
48. One hundred and fifty-one British ships, eleven German and three
Korwoginn entered and cleared the Pori of Bahrain as compared with one-*
hundred and seventeen British Ships, eleven Gorman ships and two Norwegian
ships that entered and cleared the Port of Bahrain during 1931.
49. A launch belonging to the Shaikh of Tihbin which was returning there
with merchandize, caught fire on the 26ih August on the pearl banks not. far from'
Bahrain, and was completely destroyed, fortunately without loss of life. The
engine was a German one supplied bv Yusuf Fnkhru, and the Incident is not
likely to enhance their sales.
50. The Qusaibis sold a big launch to Ilis Majesty Bin Sn’ud and it suc­
cessfully made the voyage to Jeddah, reaching Muscat in four days from
Bahrain.
51. The yc/ir was notable for the advent of three special steamers, the
14 Marly ” on the 27th Januaiw, the 44 Fagcrvick 99 on the 27th April and the
14 Ahmodi99 on the 27th October... The two last named carried direct cargo for
mainland ports,, and the 44 A limed i99 was refused permission to discharge anv
Cargo at Bahrain as she declined to guarantee that the mainland cargo would
pay the customary two per cent, transit duty.
52. The competition of these.steamers with the British India Steanl
Navigation Company, Limited, is a very serious matter for the Gulf. The
regular mail service, first of all monthly and then fortnightly and weekly has
been the creation of the Gulf trade as we know it. now, and ships such as these
intruders which carry .cargo for possibly the two best ports only cause great
loss to the British India Steam Navigation Company, Limited, at a time when
they can ill afford it. By their mail contract, the Company arc obliged to call
at a number of ports which no longer have anv trade worth mentioning, and
they are thereby handicapped in dealing with these competitors.
. . 53. Royal Navy.—H. M. S. 44 Ormonde ” arrived in on the 20th February,
being proceeded by a party on. the 7th February to carry out a survey. They
finally left on the 13th May not having altogether completed their work. They
were delayed by storms, January having been exceptionally calm and the other
months correspondingly stormy.’
54. The Naval Commandcr-in-Chief of the East Indies Squadron, Ilia
Excellency Rear Admiral E. Dunbar-Nasmitli, V.C., C.B., in H. M. 8.44 Hawkins ”
paid a visit to Bahrain on the 17th December. He left on the 20th December.
55. The Senior Naval .Officer in the Persian Gulf in II. M. S. 44 Triad 99 and
other of His Majesty’s Ships paid visits to Bahrain during the year.
56. Royal Air Force.—The Flying Boats of 203 (F. B.) Squadron R. A. F-
paid ftAquent visits to Bahrain during the year. A Rangoon made a forced
landing at Jinnah Island on the 16th January, and another made a forced
landing on the 10th September. The Flying Boats have been extremely fortu­
nate so. far. in .having made forced landings either in or very near sheltered
water, for landing in a rough sea would speedily end their careers. Tho