Page 335 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

$)

bloods.—During the winter of 1359 there w;is an abnormally heavy rainfall which caused'
serious lloods and considerable damage to Government and private buildings. The Hoods were
most serious in the low-lying suburbs of Manama!) where the main roads and hundreds of saf
houses remained several feet under water for a week or ten days. In other places, ’especially in
HedtT, numbers of houses built of stone and mud collapsed; in some eases on the heads of their
owners. About a dozen people were killed and many others were injured. In Met Id many -if the
inhabitants left their houses and lived for the time being in their boats.
Much of the work which had been done during the year under the anti-malaria scheme was
rendered useless; land which had been reclaimed and swamps which had been filled in became
sheets of water. There was distress among the poorer people of Manama!) and when the Hoods,
began to go down conditions made it appear likely that the Hoods would be followed by epidemics.
However, they did not occur.
1 he Government took all possible steps to alleviate the distress of the people. Funds were
provided bv the Government, with a contribution from Ifis Highness Shaikh Sir Hamad to.
compensate people whose houses had been damaged. A number of families were temporarily
housed in His Highness's house near the Fort and on the ground lloor of tin- palace. Drains,
were dug through the town to the sea from the south-west side of the town and from tin- south­
east which eventually carried away much of the flood water. A large number of saf houses on
Government land in the western quarter of Manama!) were removed to higher ground near the Fort
at Government expense and steps were taken to oil the llood-waler to prevent extensive breeding of
mosquitoes. The drains which were dug are. to be permanently built and the. effect of the new
drains will reduce the Hood water which collects every year during the rainy season, even when,
the amount of rain is normal, in the low-lying land round Manamah.
Death of Sllaikh Jasim and Haj Ahdn Ali hin Pejah.
The death occurred towards the end of* the year of Shaikh Jasim bin Mehza who for many
years was the Sunni Qadi of Bahrain. He retired from his post about fourteen year'ago when he
became blind. Shaikh Jasim was a notable religious judge whose reputation was well known in all
parts of the Gulf. He was a contemporary of Shaikh Isa bin Ali, the late ruler of Bahrain and.
his age at the time of his death appears to have been about 100. •
Haji Abdu Ali bin Kcjab, who died during the year, was for many years recognised as the
leading man of the Bahama. lie was a pearl merchant by profession and, although quite illiterate,
he owned a number of pearling dhows. In his day he was one of the wealthiest and the most
influential men in Bahrain but latterly he fell on evil days having lost all his money and his.
property owing, to the depression in the pearl industry.
Hahrain Broadcasting Station.—The broadcasting station was opened by His Highness
Shaikh Hamad on 3rd Shawaal 1359 (4th November 1940). It is controlled by the Publicity
Ofiicer, a member of the staff of the Political Agency, Bahrain. It has been of value to the
Government of Bahrain as a means of publishing information on current matters such as talks
on antimalaria measures, census arrangements etc. The value of the broadcast is limited because
apart front people who listen to it in a few coffee-shops it is only heard by owners of wireless sets
in Manamah and Muharraq. Owners of wireless sets are a small proportion of the population.
Visit of ll.P.lf. the Amir Sand.—The Amir Sa’ud spent several days in Bahrain on his way
to and from India, in the spring. He was accompanied by a number of relations and followers. 'I he
Amir and his party were the guests of His Highness Shaikh Hamad.
Shaikh Mohomed hin Isa Alkhalifah in Malta.—At the outbreak of the war will) Italy, Shaikh
Mohomed bin Isa Alkhalifah, who was on his way back to Bahrain from Egypt, on an Italian boat,
was taken to Malta where he stayed for about two months until arrangements were made for hint
to leave the island. Shaikh Mohonted’s visit to Malta coincided with the beginning of the Italian
air attacks on that island. He eventually returned by air to Jedda ami thence by the land route
through Saudi Arabia to Bahrain.
Air Attach on Bahrain.—On 17II1 Uamadhan 1359 (October 19, 1940) bombs were dropped
in the neighbourhood of the refinery by Italian aeroplanes. No damage, was done to persons or
property' but the attack caused general indignation and anger among the Arabs in Bahrain and
in*other parts of the Arab world.
Papal Insignia bestowed on Ilis Highness Shaikh Hamad, 'flic Roman Catholic Church,
for which His Highness Shaikh Hamad granted a piece of ground, was opened during the year.
His Highness Shaikh' Hamad received'from Mis Holiness the. Pope the order of Chavclicr'of the*
Order of San Sabastian.