Page 86 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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Divers in the boat which made the biggest profit during the season received Rs. 398, in the
second most successful boat each diver earned Rs. 346. but the average earning of a diver was only
Rs. 167 and against these amounts must be deducted the loans advanced to the divers before and
during the season which amounted to Rs. 88-4. Accordingly the average diver after working for
4$ months made a clear profit of Rs. 79, a small sum to compensate him for the rigorous work of the
diving season and considerably less than he would have earned if by working in a shore job. In spite
of the small reward there arc still many thousands of men in Bahrain who arc attracted to the diving
industry mainly because there is always the possibility of making big money by finding an important
pearl. The two largest pearls which were found during the season weighed 150 and 104 chows
respectively and in these two boats a diver received Rs. 240 and a puller received Rs. 160.

In the year under review 277 diving boats were licensed, about 8,000 divers were employed in
the diving fleet and the sum received by divers and nakhudas on account of the pearls which were
sold to the shore merchants was approximately Rs. 16,32,000, which is an increase of six lakhs over
last season’s prices.

POLICE AND PUBLIC SECURITY.
Strength. At the end of the year the strength of the State Police was 3 officers and 334
N.C.Os and other ranks, the strength of the Special Police was 1 officer and 150 N.C.Os and other
ranks, the Natur Forces was 182 men. The total number of armed men was 666. Civilian employees
attached to the State Police, including boat crews, gardeners, cooks, etc., amounted to 35. There
were 11 deaths in the whole force during the year.

Duties. The Special Police were employed entirely at the Oil Field.
In addition to their normal duties the State Police maintained twelve outposts and permanent
guards including Police Station personnel at Manama, Muharraq and Hedd, prison guards at Jida
and mounted patrols centred at Budeya and at Jaw.
The Naturs also maintained twelve posts including the garrison of Hawar Island, posts at Sitra,
Suk al Khamis and on islands beyond Muharraq and guards on oil installations near Manama and on
Muharraq island.
In spite of additional night patrols in Manama, which were necessary owing to the serious
increase in thieving, the usual daily parades were carried out throughout the year and all men took
part in the annual musketry course which was fired on the Safra range. At the end of the year the
musketry course was revised and brought into line with the course now used in the British Army, which
is shorter than it used to be. Another innovation during the year was the adoption of foot drill in
three ranks which has replaced the old style of four ranks. The Machine Gun section fired the
usual course. The section which carried off the shooting trophy obtained an average of 71-2 per
cent, the average of the whole force was 62-5 per cent.
As many men as possible were granted leave during the year but the number of men absent
at one time never exceeded 19. Men who had more than two months’ leave due to them were
allowed to draw leave pay in lieu of any leave over and above two months. As the Police do not
draw rations while on leave men who had accumulated leave availed themselves of this concession.

A number of policemen obtained their discharge during the year and their places were filled
with men transferred from one of the Levy Companies which was being disbanded. Owing to highly
paid employment being available in Bahrain for able bodied men very few suitable recruits presented
themselves for enlistment and no new recruits were taken on during the year.
Uniform and Equipment. A supply of new uniforms and equipment including shorts,
shirts, overcoats, blankets, etc., was supplied, on payment, by the military authorities in Iraq.
Previous attempts to obtain materials in India had met with small success.