Page 116 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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provisioned than the fleets of neighbouring states and diving was carried on successfully throughout
the season. Dates, date juice and jarccsh, which is a species of porridge made of crushed wheat , was
the staple diet of many people in Bahrain during the year. If this food, in sufficient quantity, is
available in future the people of Bahrain will be able to exist.
During the year the Government of India placed an embargo on the export of cotton piece-
goods. except under quota. Owing to the small tonnage allocated to Bahrain, the very high prices
existing in the market and the usual tendency of merchants to hold back their goods it became neces-
sary for the Government to take measures to ensure that people could buy piece-goods at reasonable
prices. In July the Government bought from the local merchants one-third of their stocks of certain
kinds of cheap cotton materials at 5% above the cost price. These piece-goods were sold by the yard
to the public at cost price, the quantity which could be purchased by each person being limited to a
certain number of yards. One-third of future imports of piece-goods will be purchased on this basis
by the Government for sale to the poor.
A very strict control was exercised throughout the year on the export of all types of goods from
Bahrain. Numerous attempts were made to smuggle sugar, piece-goods and other commodities out
of Bahrain as enormous profits were obtainable from this trade. The police and the Customs staff
made many arrests during the year and convictions in cases of smuggling and other offences against
the food regulations resulted in fines amounting to over Rs. 40,000 being imposed by the Bahrain
Court as well as numerous prison sentences.
A " blaok market ” exists in Bahrain and will continue to exist while rationing and price
control is enforced. The people who trade in it are not the people who lodge complaints.
Undoubtedly some people sell most of their sugar rations, buying date juice instead and sweet makers
and cake makers continue to produce goods for sale which they make from sugar and flour bought in
the black market, but as long as the foodstuffs remain in the country little harm is done.
After nearly two years of rationing the public have become well accustomed to the new way of
iiving. Even in the villages, where the bulk of the population is entirely uneducated, rationing arrange­
ments are working smoothly. The people cheerfully accept the fact that they have, in many cases,
to walk several miles to the Government shop where they buy their food and that nothing can be
obtained without paying cash. The people who do grumble, and they are not numerous, are usually
the wealthy town merchants who are not the people who suffer most from the present high prices and
restrictions.
The following is a comparison of pre-war and present day prices :—
Commodity. Unit. Pre-War. Present Rates. Increase %•
Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs.
RICE (Ballam) .. .. Maund 4 14 0 16 3 0 230%
„ (Karachi) .. Maund 380 850 137%
WHEAT FLOUR .. Ruba 046 0 12 0 175%
COFFEE (Native) .. Ruba 120 440 275%
GHEE (Vegetable) .. Ruba 1 3 0 380 195%
MATCHES .. Gross 1 2 o 700 525%
SUGAR .. Ruba 040 1 2 3 350%
TEA .. Ruba 300 11 o o 267%
WHEAT .. Ruba 096
BARLEY .. Ruba 0 10 0
CIGARETTES .. On an average. 130%
Per piece of
WHITE SHIRTINGS .. .. 40 yards 580 38 0 0 590%
MALAFA .. 18 180 780 400%
M 700%
COTTON MULLS 20 »» 2 12 0 22 0 0
SAWALI .. 30 #1 400 30 o 0 650%
PRINTS 20 280 15 o o 500%
BASRA DATES .. Maund 2 10 0 26 0 o 890%
80%
SAF & JAREED .. Thousand 10 0 0 18 0 0 112%
REED MATS .. .. Thousand 40 0 0 85 0 0
FIREWOOD .. .. Rafaa 600 20 0 0 233%

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