Page 331 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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regarded with a good deal of suspicion and it seemed expedient, for the time being, to drop the question
of registering deaths and to concentrate on arrangements for registering births. The reasons for this
step were explained to the village people who in every case, after some discussion, were agreeable
to the proposal. In each centre a man was appointed as a clerk to register births and it was explained
to him that at a given date registration would begin.
The new Committee consists of u members and includes two or three men who have sat on
previous committees. The members arc leading personalities in their village areas, knowledgeable
in matters concerning gardens, water rights and Waqf property. They give their services freely and
attend meetings, once or twice a month, in the department’s office at Bab-al-Bahrain. The Shia
Waqf Committee, apart from the work which it does in administering Waqf property, is a useful
organisation and is on occasions consulted by the Government in matters regarding the rural
population.

PASSPORT DEPARTMENT

(From the report of Mr. Kadhim Al-Asfoor, Passport Officer.)
Revenue.—The total revenue collected by the department during 1370 was Rs. 52,600,
about Rs. 3,000 more than in the previous year. The largest receipts were from the sale of book
passports, travel passes and entry forms which produced respectively Rs. 14,300, Rs. 14,500 and
Rs. 11,000.
Pilgrims.—Only 34 persons from Bahrain went on the pilgrimage to Mecca, a small number
considering the proximity of Bahrain to the Ilejaz and the facilities for air travel which enable a
pilgrim to fly to Jcdda in a matter of hours. Included in the number were 9 Persians long resident in
Bahrain.
About 1,000 Pakistanis and Afghanis came through Bahrain on their way to and from Mecca.
On their return journey a number of them spent several weeks in Manamah waiting for places on
steamers. Their apparent destitution and their insanitary habits caused considerable trouble to the
Health and Municipal authorities.
There was a great increase in the number of Shias, mostly Bahama, who did the pilgrimage
to the Holy Cities of Iraq, the department issued 2,126 passports for this purpose. The Shia pilgrim­
age takes about three months and is a costly expedition especially for people of the working classes
who formed the majority of the pilgrims. The fact that so many Bahama were able to go on this
journey is an indication that they had plenty of money to spend.
Passengers.—
Arrivals Departures
By sea, native craft 37.845 38.156
By sea, steamers 9,248 6.564
By air........................... 11,897 14.817
Air travel continues to increase. Most of the native craft passengers were Bahrainis and Saudi
Arabians travelling on business between the two countries.
Bahrain Nationality.—During the year 112 applications were received from people wishing
to acquire Bahrain nationality, of these 71 were accepted. Most of the applicants were Persians,
owning land in Bahrain. If the Government modified the conditions under which Bahrain nationality
is granted it is likely that many thousands of the foreign subjects now resident in Bahrain would
apply for Bahrain citizenship. The condition that the applicant must own land and must have re­
sided in Bahrain for 10 years is a factor in restricting applications. The courts examined the claims
of 72 Persians, who asserted that they were bom in Bahrain, these investigations resulted in 59 person?
being accepted as Bahrain subjects,