Page 193 - 1 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 1_Neat

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1C. There arc no pki-ros of public entertainment
. -r Contractors (each of whom was
««,istrs.*ass2'siE Accoicm>]iv*.i<a for sellable for Europeans, and
h: u --C8 or quarters are diflicult
European Traveler*.
to obtain and expensive.
Trained servants are unobtainable and the raw
. 1 Julio? to the overcamagc of cargo
f cargo from damage by sea and material is rarely to bo found. . Intending visitors
•J:jc l0. delay in delivery, sometimes would do well to give these points their attention
-- ““I fo months, arc the chief causes of before leaving Bombay, if they propose to make
r enting Add to these loss by pilfering and a stay of any duration in Bahrain. Beyond meat,
^tlicft, and difficulty in getting just claims fat, rice, sugar, salt and potatoes food supplies
either havc to he imported, or are best imported.
Hard to obtain owing to the 17. The language of the country is Arabic. In
&•?* cyiiable court to which to refer claims. The Language. Manama, however, (here are
,dis-ul-Urfi consisting of merchant® is considerable Persian and
not well-qualified for the work, and Hindustani-speaking communities. The Arab as a
this nor any local body would care to incur rule knows no language but his own; foreigners
of deciding a claim brought against a usually understand Arabic. Few of the Native
-*?Jrfment of the Local Government merchants are in a position to conduct correspon­
• f it has been said that agriculture in Bahrain dence in English. They deal in European goods
is almost confned to date- through their Agents in Bombay.
product*. growing, and dates and date 18. The climate of Bahrain is extremely damp
are accordingly the only agricultural produce Climate and Public at ill seasons, and is undoubt­
*~£Ji\s for export. The dates are of inferior health. edly unhealthy. Neither
! and are for the most part exported to the extremes of heat or cold
' "K*others being imported for local consumption. are excessive, but the extreme moisture makes
"iJrs is also a small export of lucerne seed. even moderate heat disagreeable. There is a great
7^ culy other natural products exported are deal of very strong norh-west wind, varied in
?rs (which form S7 per cent, of the total the later hot weather by spells with a South-East
-j for the year under review), and a varying wind, or no wind when the damp is so great that
c '.r.ij of shells. the dry and vet bulb thermometers show as little
’ T>si is practically no export of loral manufac- as two degree differerxe at a temperature of
articles for the good reason that there are between 95 and 100 F.
■ -..h-ally no industries beyond a certain amount Ilot weather conditions prevail from the begin­
: bat-buildings and a small manufacture of ning of May veil on into October.
i>htL The Barih or forty day; Shamal which is expect­
Prdacing little but pearls, Bahrain is forced to ed in June and July often makes the climate at
almost all her requirements in the way of that time comfortably ox! and pleasant.
:r nsaies of life from abroad. Bahrain (Manama) is away from the Bazar,
-■5 The relative extent of the Import and fairly free of insect pests.
Export of different articles The rainfall is small but has been showing a
7:?:nt;ipil article*
•1 l=y.rt and Exjori. may best be seen by refer­ tendency to increase in recent years.
ring to the tables attached Average raisfiU in the 10 yau-t, 1902-11 «-2 •CO*
\ r1 ac^ previous reports. The principal articles Rainfall in 1911-12 wu . -6-21*
- —jort however are Highest M&xLansa ;
Lowest Minimum 1902-1311.
PiaHs from the neighbouring fisheries,
qocie from India, rice, piece-goods, In autumn there is a gx>d deal of fever, and
ghee, coffee, dates, slaughter animals, sometimes in spring, Rheumatic afffictknis are
Fa£ari tea, fuel, and tobacco. very general.
Since 1905, Bahrain has been visited every
principal articles of Export are — second year by plague. The epidemic of 1911
BPeae to neighbouring countries, was the severest yet on record. The death roll was
nce> piece-goods, dates, coffee, tea, estimated at about 2,000 in Manama, Muharraq
®jrter shells (uncertain) and sugar. and the neighbouring villages. Cholera also occa-
sionally visits the islands.
Communications with India and the Gulf
c Such heavy mortality entails serious i lncomTeni-
:=3=CU cation*. Ports are maintained by the ence in business circles. Merchants dying-, whe­
regular services of two lines ther solvent or insolvent, leare their affaire* ___
in a
condition which makes winling up their estates an
arduous business. The resources of the Agency
and the Majlis-ul-Urfi are overtaxed, and creditors
have to expend considerable time and labour in
between Bahrain and the order to prove their cburrs, and are usually ker t
llr1S“mTtli“t:on in tbc BihraiD Island. out of their money for a prolonged period. 1
19. Some remarks were made on this subject in
M It vZl ani °Phonally between place* on the
»v«ra J- Beyond one or two private vehicle* Coct of Living. the Trade Report of 1909-
the ial?A tliere “ 00 ^Heeled The cost of the necessaries of \'Jq ^^ooti^ed
U. r-Jl • n“* steadily to nse since then. This is probably in
) ^ 18 4 Post Office in Bahrain. Money part due to plentifulneej of money produced hv
•„ **tt*n* order ^ and value payable the prosperous .nature of the last two pearling
of WorH *® done- There is no STS, “OTe-v bduc* a Heighten*
^^(*A*SSj&5r,a,to ing ofthe standard of living, as well as a tendency
to extravagance on the part of aU classes. If it ^