Page 163 - 1 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 1_Neat
P. 163

3

                                               Mats and mat lags.—Increase due to greater
      ned that in the course of times these drawbacks I
     j3y be mitigated, and the subject has been and is ;   demand.
    Reiving attention.                      \  Metal and metal ware.—Increase due to greater
     In any case so long as the present qualified anarchy   demand.
     *is‘s on the mainland any sudden revolutions in (lie   Pearls.—Decrease due to Qatar merchants having
    Situation and the rise of any serious rival or rivals to   sent a large proportion of their pearl* direct to the
    jislirain arc improbable.                 Bombay market instead of disposing of them in
     leaving these general considerations regarding the   Bahrain as in past years. Nearly compensated by
    probable future of Bahrain, a word may be said as   increase of import from other foreign sources.
    partis its business relations.              Deg limes.—Decrease due to stock on hand from
     The native merchants of Bahrain have no direct   previous year.
    business relations with European countries, and in few   Flour.—Decrease due to stock in hand from pre­
    cases have they any means of carrying on correspond­  vious year, not balanced by an increased demand for
    ence in a European language. Merchandise of Euro­  fine Hour for manufactures of confectionery.
    pean origin they obtain cither from Bombay through   Ghee.—Increase due to fall in price inducing large?
    agents there, or else through the European Grins   purchase.
    established in Bahrain,, nr., Messrs. Gray, Paul and
    Company (British), and Messrs. R. Wonchkaus and   Shells.—Decrease due to the pearlers of Qatar
    Company (German). There is therefore at present for   having thrown hack greater part of their shells into
    British Gnus no means of getting into direct rela­  the sea in order to fertilise the banks.
    tions with the native merchants.            Sugar.—Increase due to greater demand.
     A few remarks may now be made with reference to   Tea.—Decrease due to stock on hand from previous
    certain of the items in the tables of imports and   year.
    exports.                                    Timber and wood.—Increase due to greater demand
                   Lmpoxts.                   for boat and house building.
     Cofjce.—Decrease owing to Inrce stock remaining   Chan dais.—Increase due to greater demand for
    on hand from- previous year and to a heavy advance of   house building combined with rise in price.
    prices in Europe.                           Tobacco.—Increase in value due to rir-e in price of
     Coir and coir roj.es.—Decrease owing to large stock   Oman tobacco.
    remaining from previous year.               Allas.—Increase due to greater demand.
      Piccn.goods.—Decrease due to the import of lower   Specie.—Decrease due to the pearl merchants
    grade kinds of cloth, and to stock on hand from pro- ' having disposed of the greater part of tueirprofits in
    vious year, and to some extent to increased local j the purchase of rice,
    manufactures from imported yarn.            Xr,!c on imports.—Some decreases are accidental
     Yarn and licist.—Increase, see last para.   while several of the increases give evidence of pros-
     Datcs.—Decrease due to insecurity of Ilnsa Oq«ir  perity. Increases in  paint, timber, and chandals
    trade route; also to large shipments being made  show that there was  money available for purposes
    direct from Oqairand Qatif to Basrah and India which ' that are desirable but not essential. Increases in
    in previous years were transhipped at Bahrain. *  metal ware, sugar, and  abbas indicate rise in standard
     Colour and paint.—Increase due to greater demand °*   means to satisfy it.
    probably dependent on the prosperous character
    of preceding year enabling ship owners to expend            Exports.
    more in upkeep of their vessels; consumption is mainly   Sad cloth.—Decrease due to the demand from abroad
    local but there is also export to minor Persian ports.  being below the average. Ultimate cause not known.
     Fireieood.—Increase in value owing to rise in price.  Piece goods.—Decrease due to insecurity of Hasa-
     Pice.—Increase due to the pearl merchants having   Oqair caravan route.
    disposed of the proceeds of their pearls in Bombav   Pice.—Increase due to greater demand from Turk­
    in. the purchase of rice. Early arrivals also brought   ish Arabia.
    within the year consignments which would ordinarily
    have arrived alter its expiry.              Tax.—Decrease due to a smaller demand from
                                             ' Persia.
     Hides and skins.—Increase due to favourable state
    of European market.                      ( Pearls. In the purchase and export of pearls
                                             ; European dealers were again represented by a mem­
     Gunny lags.—Increase due to increased employ­  ber of a Paris firm, who is believed to have pnr-
    ment for packing dates for export in place of mat bans  | chased and exported pearls to the value of R.
    previously used.
                                             i 64,00,000.
   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168