'Government of Bahrain Annual Report for Year 1359 (February 1940 - February 1941)' [‎190r] (51/74)

hloods. During the winter of 1359 there was an abnormally heavv rainfall which causttl
serious Hoods and considerable damage to (iovernment and private buildings. The floods were
most serious in the low-lying" suburbs of Manamah where the main roads and hundreds of saf
houses remained several feet under water for a week or ten days. In other places, especially in
Ifedd, numbers of houses built of stone and mud collapsed; in some cases on the heads of their
owners. About a dozen people were killed and many others were injured. In Hedd manv »f the
inhabitants left their houses and lived for the time being in their boats.
Much of the work which had been done during the vear under the anti-malaria scheme was
rendered useless; land which had been reelaimed and swamps wViich had been filled in became
sheets of water. 1 here was distress among the poorer people of Manamah and when the floods
began to go down conditions made it appear likely that the floods would be followed by epidemics.
However, they did not oecur.
I he (lovernment took all possible steps to alleviate the distress of the people. Funds were
provided by the (iovernment, with a contribution from His Highness Shaikh Sir Hamad to.
compensate people whose houses had been damaged. A number of families were temporarily
housed in His Highness's house near the Fort and on the ground floor of the palace. Drains
were dug through the town to the sea from the south-west side of the town and from the south-
cast which eventually carried away much of the flood water. .\ large number of saf houses on
Government land in the western quarter of Manamah were removed to higher ground near the Fort
at Government expense and steps were taken to oil the flood-water to prevent extensive breeding of
mosquitoes. I he drains which were dug are to be permanently built and the effect of the new
drains will reduce the flood water which collects every year during the rainv season, even when
the amount of rain is normal, in the low-King land round Manamah.
Death of Shaikh Jasim ami Haj Ahdv Ali bin Rejah.
I he death occurred towards the end of the year of Shaikh Jasim bin Meh/a who for many
years was the Sunni (Jadi of Bahrain. Hi- retired from his post about fourteen vear-ago when he
became blind. Shaikh Jasim was a notable religious judge whose reputation was well known in all'
parts of the (iiilf. He was a contemporary of Shaikh Isa bin Ali, the late ruler of Bahrain and
his age at the time of his death appears to have been about 100.
Haji Abdu Ali bin Kejab, who died during the year, was for manv vears recognised as the
leading man of the Bahama. He was a pearl merchant by profession and, although quite illiterate,
he owned a number of pearling dhows. In his day he was one of the wealthiest and the most
influential men in Bahrain but latterly he fell on evil days having lost all his monev and his
property owing to the depression in the pearl industry.
Bahrain Broadcasting Station. —The broadcasting station was opened bv His High ness
Shaikh Hamad on 3rd Shawaal 1359 (4th November 1940). It is controlled by the Publicity
Officer, a member of the staff of the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Bahrain. It has been of value to the
Government of Bahrain as a means of publishing information on current matters such as talks
on antimalaria measures, census arrangements etc. The value of the broadcast is limited because
apart from people who listen to it in a few coffee-shops it is only heard bv owners of wireless sets
in Manamah and Muharraq. Owners of wireless sets an- a small proportion of the population.
1 isit of U.K.11. the Amir Sa'ud. —The Amir Sa'ud spent several days in Bahrain on his way
to and from India, in the spring. He was accompanied bv a number of relations and followers. The
Amir and his party were the guests of His Highness Shaikh Hamad.
Shaikh Mohotned bin Isa Alkhalifah in Malta. —At the outbreak of the war with Italy, Shaikh
Mohomed bin Isa Alkhalifah, who was on his way back to Bahrain from Egypt, on an Italian boat,
was taken to Malta where he stayed for about two months until arrangements were made for him
to leave the island. Shaikh Mohomed's visit to Malta coincided with the beginning of the Italian
air attacks on that island. He eventually returned by air to Jedda and thence by the land route
through Saudi Arabia to Bahrain.
Air Attack on Bahrain. —On 17th Kamadhan 1359 (October 19, T()4o) bombs were dropped
the neighbourhood of the refinery by Italian aeroplanes. No damage was done to persons or
property but the attack eaused general indignation and anger among the Arabs in Bahrain and
in other parts of the Arab world.
Papal Insignia bestowed on His Highness Shaikh Haniad. The Roman Catholic Church,
fur which His Highness Shaikh Hamad granted a piece of ground, was opened during the year.
His Highness Shaikh Hamad received from His Holiness the Pope the order of Chavelier of the
Order of San Sabastian.