Page 431 - 1 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 1_Neat

REPORT

ON TEE
TRADE OF THE BAHRAIN ISLANDS
for the year ending the 31st March 1920.

Introduction. though subsequent to the period under report, and
to-day a branch cf the Eastern Hank, Ltd.,
1. A general description of the physical, poli­ has its oFce in the busiest quarter of M a naira.
tical, and commercial peculiarities of the Islands It was opened on l(*th June 1920. To commence
given in the report for the year 1911-12 with, the Bank was gr.eatly handicapped In its
( Annual e?ries No. 5032). The permanent po­ work by the prohibition ou the export of silver
pulation has increased to about 115,000, this from India, This prohibition was removed by
increaie being mainly among the foreign com­ order of the Government of India (September
mercial community doing business in Manama. 1920) and the position of the Bank at once be­
The lceal Customs Department is run on very came assured. At present most of the burir.css is
cnlusne-rsJke lines and though there has bora a done by the sale of drafts on India. But am in­
n\arkcd improvement in their work during the creasing Lumber of rersons are using the Bank
hut year, it still does net maintain anything like as a (lace to deposit their surplus cash. Fox the
accurate statistics, consequently trade figures Lave present the Bank gives no interest on deposits*
to he prepared from the manifests of steamers, and under arranijement with the Ruler of Bahrain,
country craft, access to which has been readily giv?n interest being looked upon as contrary to M ussal-
Iv the ccartcsy of the local Customs Director. The man lav.
statistics given in this report are aa improvement Effects of the War.
on those of Inst year (1919) as fax as accuracy
goes, as the order introduced by the Ruler of 2. During the last two years the severe restric­
Bahrain, at the instance of this Agency, last year tions imposed by the Government of India on the
that all goods whether imported or exported export of silver from India hit the Bahrain pearl­
should pass through the Customs house has hid ing fraternity vory bird. The latter were com­
time to get understood. This order is being pelled to draw telegraphic order* (hnndies) in
carried out by all concerned and is creditably su­ consequence on local merchants for fundi, at a
pervised by the Customs Officials. loss from R6. 60 to Re. 180 per R*. 1,000
In spite of the above however the position in during the Eeason. It is expected that thing*
regard to the movement of pearls and specie will be considerably eased during the 1920 season,
is very unsatisfactory. Hence accurate statistic* mainly owing to the removal of the embargo on
under these heads are next to impossible. Large silver and to the foresight of the Bank, which
aumbera of local and foreign pearl merchants has provided itself with a considerable silver re­
tontinue the practice of travelling to and from serve with a view to supplying the Divers with
Bombay and Karachi, carrying large quantities their silver want*.
t£ pearls and notes in their luggage or on their Government’s rice policy still continues in force-*-
jer^on. There would indeed appear to be no re­ that is to say Bahrain as well as other Gulf port*
medy so long as the etecsship Companies charge are given a definite rice ration for the year.
the public for carrying pearls and specie.
During 1920 the ration was greatly increased,
In my report for 1918-19 I mentioned that * the to the satisfaction of all conoemed, but the intro­
Shaikh of Bahrain had after much difficulty and duction of the Tender system at Karachi ha*
^position consented to the establishment of a largely mri&ified the concession. At the present
«nk in Bahrain. From information I am glad moment the Tender system is chiefly responsible
t* report that this has materialized qaite recently. to keeping price* up in Bahrain. A* working