Page 329 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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AGRICULTURE
The experimental garden at Hudeya was enlarged during the year and more land was put
under eultivation. A quantity of European vegetables were grown in the garden and sold in the
vegetable ba/ar but it was found difficult to get good prices for them. Potatoes were successfully
grown and sold well. The heavy rain in the autumn caused much of the garden to be flooded and
all the. lirst sowing of vegetable, seeds was destroyed. The most profitable crop is still lucerne
which grows well and easily can be sold at all times of the year.
Harley was planted in the open ground below Rufuu and in a sheltered valley near Sal'ra.
The crop was fairly successful: though it did not,attain a good height it produced heads of corn
which were of fair size.
The herd of white Rath cattle, main of them prizewinners, which were purchased from
Alwar State arrived during the year. As a temporary measure they were kept at Budcya. They
arc considerably larger than the local cattle and the cost of their food is expensive. It is not yet
possible to give a definite opinion of their milking qualities but it appears that the Rath cows
continue in milk for a very much longer time than the Bahrain cows and it is’possible that they
will show a greater annual yield of milk.
His Excellency the Viceroy presented His Highness Shaikh Hamad with a prize Sindi bull
for breeding purposes. The local cattle are of two types: one is said to have been introduced
from India, the other from Arabia. Experiments are being made by crossing the local cows with,
the-Sindi bull, but it will be some years before the results will be known. The public show some
reluctance in bringing their cows to be served by the bull mainly because they think that he. is
too heavy.
There is a steady increase in the amount of new land which is being pul under cultivation
both near Manamah and on the coast especially between Zellaq and Saddad. Almost all the new
cultivation consists of lucerne, dates, and local vegetables which the public find more profitable-
to grow than European vegetables and oihcr\ crops which last only for a few months of the year.
No more artesian wells have been sunk and this restriction has reduced the extension of cultiva­
tion. It is a restriction that was very necessary owing to the apparent sinking of the water level.
In several areas, especially in the gardens at Burn, the natural springs have decreased so must
that some of the date gardens are dying for lack of water, 'file gardens in low-lying areas have
uot yet been seriously affected.
PASSPORT DEPARTMENT

The revenue from passports, etc., amounted to Rs. 14,000. This sum is only slightly more
than the cost of maintaining the department, and it is likely that the revenue will decrease in
1360. *rhe passport department maintains records of all persons entering and leaving Bahrain
and supplies detailed lists and statistics to the Bahrain Government and to other officials.
During the year 14,475 passengers arrived in Bahrain, of whom 3,219 were steamer pas­
sengers; 10,997 came in native craft and 25<j by air.
The Bahrain Government permitted Iranian divers, who dived with and were indebted to-
Bahrain nakhudas, to visit Bahrain for the diving season without obtaining regular travel docu­
ments.
There is still a large influx of Iranians into Bahrain; many of them are destitute and come
seeking employment. These persons frequently land off lonely parts of the coast and, after swim­
ming ashore, make their way to Manamah. Numbers of Arabs from Qattar enter the country in
a similar way, although the number has decreased since the mounted police patrols arc on duty
along the coast. During the year 27 prosecutions were instituted by the department against
persons who had entered the country unlawfully. The police and the passport department co­
operate well in efforts to prevent illegal entry of undesirable aliens.
The following were among the important visitors to Bahrain during the. year:—
The Hon'ble Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Lieut.-Colonel C. G. Prior, c.i.e.
His Excellency Al Signor G. B. Trinnwnzi, Bishop of Gaza.
His Excellency Part. Knahrnsiii'H, I’niicd Stales Minister at Baghdad.
His Royal Highness Prince SaVu uin Alim i.aziz, Crown Prince of Sa'udi Arabia.
Shaikh Rashid iiin Hi’M.md, Ruler of Ajman.
Shaikh Sa’id ih.n Maktuai, Ruler of Dubai.
Shaikh Auon..v/i/. Ai.-Mo’am.mkr, Amir or Tail*.