Page 464 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

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Dried and salted fish goes mainly to India and Ceylon.
India takes nearly six-sevenths of the date crop, while the
United States takes the remaining seventh as represented by the
better class dates known as “ Fard.”
The total trade for the three years is as follows:—
1925-26 1926-27 1927-28
£ £ £
637,817 474.202 518,944

VII. BAHREIN ISLANDS.

GeneraL—The Bahrein Group consists of two principal and a
number of smaller islands.
Awal, the main island, more usually known as a‘ Manama ”
after the principal town there, is 30 miles long by 10 miles wide
and has an area of 208 square miles. Muharraq, the next in im­
portance, lies a couple of miles from the north-east comer of Awal
and has an area of 5J square miles.
The islands are little cultivated owing to lack of water and the
greater attractions of the pearl industry. Being the trade centre
for the surrounding districts on the mainland Bahrein caters for
a much larger population than its own resident or floating popula­
tion and roughly one-third of the imports are re-exported annually.

Government.—The State of Bahrein is ruled by an Arab
Sheikh as an independent Arab State under British protection,
but is not a British protectorate. His Majesty’s Government and
the Government of India are represented by a Political Agent. A
local Sliara Court administers Islamic law in cases arising between
Bahrein subjects, and if both sides are willing, in cases between
foreign Muslim subjects and Bahrein subjects.

Under the Bahrein Order in Council the Political Agent, as
District Judge, has civil jurisdiction over British subjects; over
other non-Bahreinis in certain conditions; and in cases between
Bahreinis and British subjects or others falling within the scope
of the Order.
Civil cases may, according to circumstances, be tried in the
court of the Political Agent; in a joint court composed of the
Political Agent and an official of the Sheikh; or in the Majlis el
Urf—a civil court of not less than four members selected by
the Political Agent in concert with the Sheikh. Local or Indian
law may be applied, according to circumstances. Criminal cases
are tried by the Political Agent in a joint court or by a Kazi.
according to circumstances. In both civil and criminal cases there
are certain rights of appeal to the Political Resident in the Persian
Gulf.