Page 157 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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Increased supplies of fresh vegetables and fruits were available during the year at prices slightly
cheaper than those of the previous year.
As anticipated, it was possible to abolish cloth rationing during the year under review. Cotton,
artificial silk, silk and woollen piece goods, poured into Bahrain throughout the year from the United
Kingdom, India, China and the U.S.A. A considerable quantity of Japanese piece goods were also im­
ported into Bahrain from the free port of Aden. The piece goods market became overstocked and the
public were able to buy most types of this commodity at prices well below the controlled rate.
Towards the end of the year a market was found for longcloth and mulls in Pakistan and Afghanistan
and considerable quantities of Japanese, English and Indian types were sold and shipped there.
The Bazaar was heavily stocked throughout the year with all types of consumer goods, but prices,
and in particular those of cars, radios, cycles and gramophones, were again approximately to per cent
higher than in the previous year. The increase was at the source of supply and not local.
Sellers of fancy goods, such as jewellery, ivory goods, Kashmir carved woodwork, gold embroidered
handbags and belt6, watches, cameras, etc., did a brisk business throughout the year among the visiting
crews from vessels calling at Bahrain, and the employees of nearby Oil Companies in Saudi Arabia and
Qatar.