Page 202 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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LITERACY
Census 1941 (1360) .. . .Not recorded.
Census 1950 (1369) .. ••*•1.057 (literates).
Fairly detailed information was obtained from a cross section of the village population number­
ing 31,1606 ; this included 16,0.47 males and 15,554 females. In the total there were 3,960 infants aged,
as far as could be ascertained, under 4 years of whom 1947 were males and 2,013 were females, 1,043
men and 115 women were literate. Occupations which were recorded were as follows :—
Cultivators.................................................................................... 3.6*5
Fishermen, boatmen, coral stone cutters ........................ i.*7«
Shopkeepers and traders living in villages and having shops
in the towns ........................................................................ 285
Skilled labourers, carpenters, weavers, car drivers 419
Oil Company workmen 1.508
Government employees 86
Religious tcachcis and readers .. *35
Imams of mosques ............................................................ 11
School teachers 9
Labourers.................................................................................... 1.989
9.235

The difference between the total number of males (including infants) and the number of males
in classified employment is accounted for by the old men and boys who are either too old or too young
to have regular employment.

THE DIVING INDUSTRY

There appears to be reasonable hope that the diving industry in Bahrain is beginning to recover
from the low ebb into which it sunk during the last two or three years. If world conditions were more
stable there might be a revival of the pearl trade but the present international situation is
not favourable to an industry which is dependent on luxury goods.
In 1367 the situation of the pearl industry was so bad that the Government had to advance a
considerable sum of money to the nakhudas in order to enable them to equip their diving boats. In
spite of this encouragement only 69 boats went out in 1367. Next year 83 boats were manned and in
the year under review the number increased to 94. Another indication of improved conditions was
the fact that by the end of 1369 season most of the nakhudas had repaid to the Government the money
which they had been lent.
It was a successful season for the dealers, nakhudas and divers. The value of catch was
estimated at 16$ lakhs, almost twice the value of last year's catch ; the quantity of pearls which were
found was greater than in 13G8 and the pearls were said to be of better quality than those of the previous
season. No important pearl was found ; the highest price paid for one pearl was Rs. 9,000, which is
a small sum when compared to the price of one pearl which was sold some twenty years ago
for Rs. 2,00,000.
Market prices were steady throughout the season and the various classes of pearls fetched about
the same prices as in 1368. There were more buyers for lower grade pearls which obtained better
prices than high grade pearls.
The average amount earned by a diver was Rs. 422, divers in the most successful boat received
Rs. 626 and all boats appeal to have made a profit. The diving advances before, during and after
the season, amounted to Rs. 210. The amount of advances which can be debited against a diver