Page 191 - 1 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 1_Neat

REPORT
ON THE
TRADE OF THE BAHRAIN ISLANDS

POR THK
YEAR, 1911-1912

BY
Captain D. L. R. LORIMER, LA.

PART L
QENERAL INTRODUCTION.
1 The following items of general infoenntion There is a large interchange of produce, bat
i?rariling conditions of life in Bahrain, *onc of many persons also ccme from the neighbourirg
wikh have not appeared in previous reports, may Turkish and Arab provinces to male cash pur­
be considered of use as throwing light on the chases.
commercial circumstances of the place. Apart from these commercial visitors however,
2. The Bahrain Group consists for pinched there is also the large community engaged in the
~ purposes of two islands, Pearl Fishery, who in 1906 were estimated as
PhyccmL Awal (par excellence numbering some 17,o00 souls. Many of these
u Bahrain,”) and Muharraq. The former is 60 are outsiders and cannot rank as permanent in­
miles by 10 miles (maximum measurement, and habitants, but all so leng as they engage in this
Las an area of 2OS square miles. The litter, work, draw their requirements or food and clothing
Ivirg a couple of miles from the North East corner from Bahrain. During the actual season, the
f the Main Island,is of a very irregular fignjc and middle of May to the 4th week of October, they
Las an area of only some 5J sq. miles. are at sea except during a recess of 2 weeks to a
The surface of the islands is for the greater month in the middle of the period. At the close
part uncultivated, owing chiefly to the want of of the season, however, they have to hang on till
ira'.er supply, partly to the character of the psople accounts are made up and they receive their dues
•-cd the greater attractions of the Pearl Industry. in full or in part, and this often occupies months.
3. The only objects of cultivation are tine date Again they have to be present early in April
ard concurrently and on the same ground with when preparations begin to be made for the
h lucerne, and a few fruits and vegetable* of coming season.
ury indifferent quality. The movement of this considerable body of
_ There are some IS square miles of date planta­ people produces a seasonal fluctuation in the ac­
tion in the Main Island along its Northern c:ast, tivity of the local market. The most active time
to which are to be added the gardens of Muharraq is in April and May when not only the fleet, but
and Sitra Islands. The plantations are irrigated the families remaining ashore, are provisioned for
bom springs and wells. the following months. Again at Qoffal on the
L The population of the islands is reeikraed return of the fleet and payment of the pearls,
Population. at about 100,000, and about there is naturally an increase in business which
half of it is resident im four is more or less maintained during the winter. The
irinripal towns as follows :— fact that the season of the import of rice also
. I* tht Main Island. falls within September and March, further ac­
centuates this seasonal stress.
Manama, the port of Bahrain . 25,000
6. Bahrain however eaters for a much larger
Bodaiyn ; . 8,00)0 Area of Trade. public than its own resident
or semi-resident population.
In Mnlarfaq Island.
Muharraq It is the trade centre for the surrounding district
and . 20,00»0 on the mainland, acting both as an actual mart
Hadd visited by its out-clients, and as a transhipping
• 8,00'0 and forwarding port. Re-export is effected lby
i* fmjTSif“d^0! PpP^tion is distributed native craft.
Bahrain ^ northern end of How large a population Bahrain serves directly or
m Muh^aq- indirectly in this way, it is impossible to estimate.
^'people tWjV* tb* more wen-«^<> The Exports for 1911-12 to Katar, Turkish
♦artsarern Habitants are poor and thrir Arabia and Trucial Oman, of which only a very
small proportion were Bahrain produce, amounted
’^h of the Vf° Wl^m Ibese limits however, to nearly R24,00,000. This included no pearls
fowng cmS? ,an* tbe divcri M wide in and practically no specie, and may therefore be
5. An eespn^w40 ** ^nftlcss an<i extravag-axt compared with the total Import of General
bating ponnuj- feature °* Bahrain is the l arge Merchandise during the year of apwoximatelw
* “ 4£Potel /» a ?°rt ceut^ Rl,12,30,000. 7
Series. per_; ' r£f°1r.PJ50l)‘€ ^rom the adjaneat The principal items were Rice and Coffee alao
VialOman^^^ "
to. i to Turkish Arabia piece-goods, tobacco and
kerosense, and to Katar and Trucial Oman, Ghee