Page 227 - 2 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 2_Neat

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Agriculture —The area of Bahrain is roughly
During the past few years Japanese imports
have increased considerably. They are steadily 138,000 acres, of which 1 .'12th is cultivable and
ousting British imports of cotton, woollen, real ]/2otl» under cultivation. The remaining being
and imitation »ilk, yarn hosiery and haberdashery, rocky ground b unsuitable. The principal
toys, electrical goods, rubber goods, shoes and corps are dates and a variety of vegetables.
glassware. The goods imported from Japan Industry.— Bahrain is famous throughout the
were of inferior quality but found a ready side
due to their cheapness. world for its pearl industry, on which the greater
proportion of the people depend for a livelihood.
Imports from England, particularly in the During the season Bahrain is visited by numerous
textile, cotton and silk trade, have decreased Indian and Arab and a few European pearl mer­
correspondingly. It may be stressed that a chants.
factor which favours Japanese trade is that
Japanese merchants not only visit Bahrain to Boat building: and the manufacture of sails is
examine all possible avenues of trade but are another important industry in Bahrain. Two
willing to import goods into Bahrain on their local firms, nr., Messrs. A. M. Yateeiri Brothers
own account *nd dispose of them to local mer­ and H.iji Khalil bin Ebrahim Kanoo hold
chants as opportunity offers. British ii.ms and Agencies for " Thornvcroft ” and “ Kelvin r’
merchants coukl do worse than emulate them. engines for steam launches. This industry is
capable *jf further expansion, if well organized.
Financial.—The prosperity of the people Other industries are: reed mats, date cultiva­
depends mainly on the pearling trade, which is tion and there ate great possibilities of the shell
far from flourishing and which in turn reflects industry being centralized in Bahrain.
adversely on ad other trade.
M it*.}.—The Bahrain Petroleum Company,
There is a branch of the Eastern Bank Limited Limited, a subsidiary company of the Standard
at Bahrain which transacts all classes of business. Oil Company Limited of California, have found
The Hindu system is used by the Hindu mer­ oil and are actively engaged in developing their
chants. concession.
Taxation.—Private property is free from taxa­ Communication* and Transport.—Motor reads
tion. The income of the State is derived from the suitable for cars and lorries exist over the northern
revenues collected from Customs dutic-s. The part of the Island. There are about 200 cars and
tariff is fixed by treaty at 5 per cent, ad valorem 25 lorries of various types of which 90 per cent,
on general merchandise, and 10 per cent, is levied arc of American manufacture. Motor boats ply
on certain articles of luxury such as carpets, regularly between Bahrain and Qatif and Oqair
gillims, cycles, clocks and watches, electrical and occasionally to Kuwait and Dubai. The
goods, furniture, gramophones, gold and artifi­ fares are cheap.
cial gold threxd, hosiery, henna, motor cars,
perfumery toDet soap, silken goods, sewing There is a regular weekly steamer service
machines, tyres and tubes, typewriters, boots (British India .Steam Navigation Companv)
and shoes, playing cards, and 15 per cent, on from and to India and Iraq. The East and West
alcohol, tobacco and cigarettes. bound acroplaoct of Imperial Airways, Limited*
call bi-weekly. The air service is used also for
Transit dues on goods landed at Bahrain for the commercial freight.
mainland was reduced from 2 per cent, to 1} per
cent; aed an export duty of Rs. 10 per bundle Social.—The dhcovery of oil promise* to im­
of hides and Ks. 2 per basket of dates is charged.
prove the economic condition of the people. The
Bahrain Petroleum Company Limited, has pro­
The Customs work is under the direction of vided some relief to unemployment *nd work
a European Director of Customs under the orders in the oil-field is a great attraction for emigrant*
of the Ruler of Bahrain. from India and other neighbouring countries.
M37EAD