Page 390 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER IX.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR BAHRAIN FOR THE NINE
MONTHS ENDING 31st DECEMBER 1908.

General. The period under report lias been quiet in Bahrain, though fraught with
incident on the adjacent mainland districts. The chief people of Katar are
all in a cense on the verge of bankruptcy, though-this condition docs not
affect them so severely as would be the ease in other parts of the world, in
view of the fact that their creditors who form the general population have
no effective redress. All have to sink or swim together. In addition to,
and partly in consequence of, this trouble, the Bin Thani family have been
confronted with the danger of being reduced to a lower status by the intrud­
ing Turk, and the political situation in Katar will probably continue to
require attention for some time to come.
In Katif there has been civil war throughout almost the whole of the
hot weather, and, though peace was in due time restored, the position ot'
the mercantile and landed community, shaken by their losses over pearls and
robbed of a large portion of their date-crop, must indeed be calamitous now.
In Ilasa the state of affairs has not been quite so serious though the
governorship of a weak Kaimmakam has allowed the turbulent sections if
the populace to get out of hand and the audacity of the Bedouin has greatly
interfered with trade. It is anticipated that the new regime in Turkey will
soon improve matters in the Mutasarriflik though His Majesty’s Govern­
ment may then find themselves confronted with a bolder assertiveness on the
part of the Porto towards Bahrain and the other parts of eastern Arabia
which have relations with the Government of India.
With regard to the trade of Bahrain it is not possible yet to state
positively how far a revival has occurred, but it is sincerely hoped that the
Trade Report Statistics for 190S-09 will show a decided improvement on
that of the preceding year.
Bain fall and The year 1908 has been a very dry one in all parts contained within the
liorTrtt. purview of this Agency. In Bahrain the spring rains only amounted to 15
cents and the autumn rains to about 5 cents.
On the mainland the drought in spring was equally serious, but one or
two good falls of rain fell at the commencement of the winter which started
satisfactorily the crop of grass.
The date crops of Hasa and Bahrain have been estimated at “eight
annas”—output 1,000,000 and 175,000 tons respectively—while the crop of
Katif would have been a “ six annas ” one, but for the destruction and looting
committed by the Bedouin, which reduced it by one half, making the output
about 120,000 tons.
Public The health of the islands was good throughout the nine months under
health.
report and no epidemics of disease occurred either in Bahrain or in the
adjacent mainland districts.
As regards the working of the Victoria Memorial Charitable Hospital,
Assistant Surgeon Monani gives the following figures for the years 1907 and
1908 for comparison, showing that the patients treated in the latter year
were nearly twice as numerous as in the former :—
In-door patients. Out-door pationla. Total
1907 11 2,381 2,392
1903 108 4,109 4,017
1907 Daily average number Irentod 25
1908 ,, „ „ ,f 48
The prevailing diseases were malaria, rheumatism, eye-diseases and
ulcers.