Skip to item: of 698
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1357 (March 1938 - February 1939)' [‎93v] (24/80)

The record is made up of 1 volume (39 folios). It was created in 1939. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

12
The Pearl Industry.
The 1357 season. The improvement in the pearl industry which was
mentioned in annual report for 1356 was not maintained during 1857 Ihe last
season was a bad one from all points of view. Fewer boats went out diving and
value of the catch decreased. Most of the boats failed to make any profit.
The market in Bahrain was dull at the beginning of the season but towards
G-huffal there was some activity. Most of the catch was bought in Bahrain jy
Messrs. Gendmal Brothers, a well known firm of Indian pearl dealers. 1 he only
other foreign buyer of importance who visited Bahrain was Mr. S. Pack.
The total number of Bahrain boats licensed for diving during the season was
252 which is 19 less than during the previous year. Ten years ago the Bahrain
pearling fleet numbered over 500 boats. The total amount received by the divers
according to actual figures available and a proportional calculation of boats whose
accounts are not recorded, was approximately Rs. 7,56,000. Last year this fiigurc
was approximately Rs. 13,00,000.
Only one important pearl was found, it weighed 38 chows and was sold for
Rs 13 000. The shares of the men in this boat waw Rs. 225 for a diver and
Rs. 150 for a puller, there were 82 men in the boat. The quantity of pearls was
considerably less than last year but the quality of the *' Sherin " grade was better.
The following is a rough comparison of prices :—
grade 1356 1357
Naim Rs. 20-8-0 Rs. 15-0-0
Golwa „ 16-0-0 „ 10-0-0
Sherin „ 60-0-0 „ 28-0-0
The largest catch of any one boat, excluding the one in which the large pearl
was found, was as follows :—
Grade Naim 175 mithgals
Golwa 173 chows
„ Sherin 53 „
The average earnings of divers and pullers in the six most successful boats
was as follows :—
Diver Rs. 117-0-0 Puller Rs. 78-0-0
As this represents the earning of a man who is diving for nearly four and a
half months it is evident that ordinary work on shore is more remunerative in these
days than diving.
The average "Gataan", or share, of a diver and puller was, for a diver Rs. 60
and for a puller Rs. 40. The advances during the year were as follows
Diver
Puller
Tesqam
Rs.
40-0-0
Rs.
30-0-0
Salaf
40-0-0
30-0-0
Kharjieh
10-0-0
10-0-0
Rs.
90-0-0
Rs.
70-0-0
Interest

12-0-0
>?
9-0-0
Rs.
102-0-0
Rs.
79-0-0
jws. J.* ia-W • v .j. v.
The average diver, who took the regular advances, instead of making any
profit, increased his debt by lis. 39.

About this item

Content

This volume is the Annual Report of the Government of Bahrain for the year 1357 AH (1938-1939) and gives te details of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Bahrain State and contains notes on the activities of the various Government departments, as well as the budget 1358 and some particulars of importance which took place in Bahrain during the year. It includes text, photographic images and tables. The report appears to be compiled from reports from various Government departments and officials. An index appears on folio 84r, followed by a General Review by Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the State of Bahrain (folio 85r).

The contents are divided into the following sections and sub-sections:

  • Budget 1357 (folios 86r-87r);
  • Summary of Revenue and Expenditure 1357 (folio 87v);
  • Statement of Revenue and Expenditure 1357 (folio 88r);
  • Notes on Revenue 1357 (folio 88v): Customs Receipts, Royalty on Oil, Passport Fees, Judicial Receipts, Car Taxes and Driving Licenses, Land Revenue, Interest on Reserve, Oil Inspection Fees, and Miscellaneous Receipts;
  • Notes on Expenditure 1357 (folios 88v-93r): Allowances to Ruling Family, Administrative Services, Public Health, Public Protection, Departmental Expenses, Education, Municipalities, Public Works, Major New Works (Palace, Hospital, Dispensary and Medical Officer's Quarters, Extension of Customs Pier, Passport Office, Residential Quarters, Manama-Muharraq Causeway, Police Family Quarters, Water Tower of Fort, Muharraq Sea Road Extension, Major Repairs to Quarantine, Fort Wall and Tower, Completion of Muharraq Girls' School, Completion of Hawar Fort, and Completion of Law Courts), Minor New Works (Stores Shed, School playing Ground Wall, Country School, Store Room and Servants Quarters, General Repairs to Roads, and Metalling Roads in Manama), Agriculture, Transport, Unforeseen, and Electric Department;
  • The Pearl Industry (folios 93v-94r): The 1357 Season, Advances, Pearl Propaganda [Pearl Associates], and Future Prospects;
  • Police and Public Security (folios 94v-97r): Police Administration (Strength, Recruitment, Routine and Recreation, Discipline, Health of the Police, Prisoners' Health, Infant Welfare Clinic, Cavalry Section, Buildings and Gardens, Fire Section, Promotions, and Pay and Allowances), Traffic Control, Crime, Liquor, and General;
  • Public Health, by Dr I Davenport Jones, State Medical Officer (folios 97v:-99v): The Village Dispensaries, Malaria, Diseases of the Eye, Diseas of the skin, Dysentery, Enteric, Veneral disease, Tuberculosis, Disease of the Respiration (excluding pulmonary tuberculosis), Small-pox, Gynaecological and obstetrical conditions, The Malaria Report, Medical Examination of School Children, Quarantine Service, and Comments;
  • Land Registration Department (folio 99v): Registration of Sales, Gifts and Titles, Revenue from Sales etc., Property owned by Iranians, and Land Survey;
  • Judicial (folio 100r-100v): Bahrain Courts and Shera Courts;
  • Municipalities (folios 100v-101r): Manama and Muharraq;
  • Wakf [Waqf] Department (folio 101r): Shia Wakf Department and Sunni Wakf Department;
  • Education (folios 101v-103r): Schools, Technical School, Religious Schools, Students Abroad, Girls Schools, and General;
  • Minors Department (folio 103r-103v);
  • Agriculture (folio 103v-104r): Agricultural survey, Government Experimental Garden, and General;
  • Political Unrest and Press Propaganda (folios 104r-104v);
  • General (folios 104v-106r): Distinguished Visitors (including Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and Earl Athlone, Rear Admirals J F Somerville and Herbert Fitz-Herbert, Shaikh Hafiz Wahba [Ḥāfiẓ Wahbah], Saudi Arabian Minister to London, the Vicar Apostolic of Arabia and Bishop of Gaza, Monsignor J B Tirinnanzi, and the Ruler of Dubai), Appointments, His Highness's Indian Visit, Bahrain Theatre Company, Bahrain Camels in Edinburgh, Government Rest House, and Repatriation of Indigents;
  • Electric Department, report by Mr W B Steele, State Engineer (folios 106r-108r): Generation, Increase, Wiring Contracts, Temporary Wiring, Mains Extensions, Alterations to Mains, New Generating Set, Air Conditioning, Government Telephone Department, Transport Department, Fire Department, Traffic Section, Municipal Ice Plants, Government Engineering and Carpentry School, General (Private Ice Plant, Water Supply, Royalty and Tanker Oil-Gauging, Financial Position), and Electricty Department - New Load for 1358;
  • Profit and Loss Account (folio 108v);
  • Revenue Account (folio 109r);
  • Balance Sheet (folio 109v);
  • Statement of Energy Sold (folio 110r);
  • Customs Department, report by Mr C C L de Grenier, Director of Customs (folio 110v-115v);
  • Budget 1358 (ff. 116r-118r);
  • Notes on Estimated Revenue 1358 (folio 118r);
  • Notes on Estimated Expenditure 1358: (ff. 118r-120r).

Illustrations appear on five folios and they are labelled as follows:

  • Folio 89: 'Dispensary and Medical Officers Flat', 'South Aspect', and 'North Aspect, from Sea';
  • Folio 92: 'Government house at Kozabia, built for letting', and 'Road construction equipment';
  • Folio 95: 'Mounted Policeman', and 'Police patrol launch “al Hawar”;
  • Folio 102: 'Technical School';
  • Folio 105: 'Princess Alice Inspecting Guard of Honour'.

On the front cover there is an inscription that reads 'Printed at the Times Press, Basrah' (folio 82r). Handwritten annotations and corrections are present on various folios (for example, folio 90v).

Extent and format
1 volume (39 folios)
Arrangement

This file contains an index (folio 84r) which references pages of the report.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: Folios 82-121.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1357 (March 1938 - February 1939)' [‎93v] (24/80), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/750/3, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024140826.0x0000bb> [accessed 11 May 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024140826.0x0000bb">'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1357 (March 1938 - February 1939)' [&lrm;93v] (24/80)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024140826.0x0000bb">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0002d7/IOR_R_15_1_750_0192.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0002d7/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image