Page 83 - 2 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 2_Neat

Report on the Trade of the Bahrain Islands for the year
e nding 31st March 1930.

Introduction. Exports.
The indoj*cR(l*?iit Arab Principality of Bahrain
coos is is of a group of islands off the East Coast of Crocnl Total
Arabia. The State is under British protection but Tear. Pearta. Xcrrtu»> Import.
dla.
is not a protectorate.
A general description of the physical, political and t t t
commercial j*e<u!iariti;s of the Islands is given in the t i
Report for the year 11*11 -12 (Annual Series No. 5052). 1528*29 175,884 134,393 310,077 •83,848 903,728
The permanent population is estimated at 115,000. 1529-30 . . 1193,922 141,278 335,200 642,385 887.464
ParmUge of 410-4 451 481 —19-2 —10-7
locrraae or «lo
Trade.
The total value of the trade amounted to £2,SI 8,257 Since many Pearls leaving Bahrain are not de­
as compared with £3,110,341 in 1928-20, showring a clared at all and very few declared at their correct
decrease of £292,084 or 9-4 per cent. value, it is impossible to give exact figures for their
The total value of Imports amounted to £1,930,592 Export, but the amount is variously estimated bet­
as against £2,118.616 in 1928-29, showing a decrease ween one-aad-a-half and two million Pounds.
of £185,924 or 8*3 per cent. The decrease is chiefly
due to the rebellion is Ntjd and to the commence­
ment of the slump in the Pearl trade. Customs.
It will be seen that Cotton goods valued at The Tariff ia fixed by Treaty at 5 per cent, ad
£185,734 are shown as imported from India. This valorem on all imports. In June 1920 on the ad­
is misleading as the bulk of tbe cargo imported from vice of the Government of India the tax on goods
the United Kingdom arrives rid India and conse­ landed at Bahrain in transit for the mainland.waa
quently appears under this heading, and also a large reduced to 2 per cent, from 5 per cent, at which it
quantity of Japanese piece-goods. formerly stood- Export duty of Rs. 10 per bundle of
hides and Rs. 2 per basket of dates is charged. The
Customs work is carried on by a European Director
Pearl Industry.
A general description of this Industry is given in of Customs under the orders of the BoJer of Bahrain.
this Agency Trade Report for the year 1927-28.
Agriculture.
Exports.
On its nonhem shores Bahrain is blessed with an
The total value of Exports during the year abundant water supply from springs and more
amounted to £387,565 as against £993,725 in 1928-29 recently from artesian wells. An Agricultural ex­
showing a decrease of £106,160 or 10-.7 per cent. pert has .been engaged and it is hoped that with
The following Table shows the rooTements of increasing knowledge better use will be made of the
general merchandize as compared with Pearls and wide area of fertile sod available. As recently as
Specie 150 years ago Bahrain was famous for ha cotton
which waa exported as far afield as Baghdad, and
there is no reason why these days should not return.
Imports.
So far no market for fertilisers or agricultural instru­
Total ments can be said to exist, and animal manures
* Central
T«v. rurW. Frarti Karbu- ToOl oaly are employed.
dlxc.
t t * t t
1928-29 383.411 27.438 4X0449 1,706,767 2J 16,916 A branch of the Eastern Bank exists at Bahrain
and transacts all classes of business, and the hundi
13*8-80 *74.029 UJM 485,873 1,344,820
PtraaUgi cf ▼ 871 ▼429 —21* system is hlso used by tbe Hindn merchants.
LMrrem or 4»-
mut. This bank is also the State Bank of the Bahrain
Government.