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'File 10/4 I Trade Reports' [‎352r] (716/1102)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (547 folios). It was created in 21 Sep 1926-27 Dec 1933. 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. .

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Report on the Trade of the Bahrain Islands for the year
ending 31st March 1929.
Introduction.
A general description of the physical, political
and commercial peculiarities of the islands is given
in the report for the year 1911-12 (Annual Series
No. 5052). The permanent population is estimated
*it 115,000.
Trade.
The total value of the trade amounted to
£3,110,341 compared with £3,043,222 in 1927-28
showing an increase of £67,119 or 2-2 per cent.
The total value of Imports amounted to £2,116,616
as against £2,029,181 in 1927-28 showing an increase
of £87,435 or 4-3 per cent. The increase was chie|ly
in piecegoods, tea, coffee, tobacco, spices and build
ing materials.
It is interesting to note that while there was a
decrease in the import of piecegoods last year, it
shows an increase of £42,543 during the year under
report.
It will be seen that cotton goods valued at £238,140
are shown as imported from India. This is mislead
ing as the bulk of the cargo imported from the
United Kingdom arrives via India and consequently
appears under this heading.
Pearl Industry.
A general description of this Industry is given in
this Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Trade Report for the year 1927-28.
Exports.
The total value of Exports during the year
amounted to £993,725 as against £1,014,041 in 1927-
28 showing a decrease of £20,316 or 2 per cent.
The pearl trade dominated the commerical situa
tion. The following table shows the movements of
general merchandise as compared with pearls and
species :—
Imports.
Exports.
Year.
Species.
Pearls.
Total
of
pearls
and
species.
General
Merchan
dise.
Total
Import,
£
£
£
£
£
1927-28
555,009
14,170
560,269
1,459,912
2,029,189
1928-29
383,411
27,438
410,849
1,705,767
2,116,616
Percentage of
increase or
decrease.
—30-9
+93-6
-27-8
+ 16-9
+4-3
Year.
Species.
Pearls.
Total
of
pearls
and
species.
General
Merchan
dise.
Total
Import.
1927-28
1928-29
Percentage of
increase or
decrease.
£
197,815
175,685
'—11-2
£
150,919
134,382
—10-9
£
348.734
310,077
—11-8
£
665,307
688,648
+2-7
£
1,014,041
993,725
—20
Since many pearls leaving Bahrain are not declared
at all and very few declared at their correct value,
it is impossible to give an exact figure for their
Exports, but the amount >s variously estimated
between li and 2 million pounds.
Customs.
The tariff is fixed by treaty at 5 per cent, ad valorem
on all imports. In June 1920 on the advice of the
Government of India the tax on goods landed at
Bahrain in transit for the mainland was reduced to
2 per cent., from 5 per cent, at which it formerly
stood. Export duty of Rs. 10 per bundle of hides
and Rs. 2 per basket of dates is charged. The
Customs work is carried on by an European Director
of Customs under the orders of the Ruler of Bahrain.
Enquiries Regarding Tn de.
The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain, who is in close
touch with the local and mainland affairs, will be
glad to answer any enquiries regarding trade from
merchants in the United Kingdom through the
Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of
Trade. Enquiries from India should be made
through the Director General of Commercial Intelli
gence at Calcutta. Time would probably be saved
by addressing the latter official direct, as information
on most ordinary matters is available in his records.
Shipping.
There is a regular weekly mail service from India
and bi-weekly to India. As reported previously
owing to the abolition of the British Post Office at
Bushire, the practice of sending mails to India by
mp-steamers via Bushire has ceased. JS%is the
number of mails to India reduced from 6 to 2. This
somewhat adversely affects the commercial comm
unity.
General Remarks.
Motor roads suitable for cars and lorries exist over
the greater part of the islands. There are about
200 motor cars of various makes and motor cars
are available on hire. Motor boats ply regularly
between Bahrain and Qatar on the mainland and
also run between Bahrain and Qatif and Ojair.
C. G. PRIOR,
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain.

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Content

Trade Reports and related correspondence, Bahrain. The file includes trade reports, Bahrain, for the financial years 1924-25 to 1931-32, inclusive, with associated correspondence. The reports list twenty-five countries from which imports were received (notably India, Iraq, Arabia, and Persia) under the general headings of animals; animals for slaughter; building materials; cereals; dyeing and colouring materials; oils; pearls, shells and specie; provisions; textiles and fabrics; and miscellaneous; and twelve countries to which exports were sent (notably India, Arabia, Persia, Iraq, Africa, England [United Kingdom], Belgium, Japan, and Java) under the general headings of building materials; cereals; fuel; oils; pearls, shells, and specie; provisions; textiles and fabrics; and miscellaneous. The file also includes a report on the Bahrain pearl industry by Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, with covering letter to Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Charles Johnson Barrett, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain, dated 19 December 1928.

Extent and format
1 volume (547 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged chronologically from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the system in use appears in the top right corner of each folio, circled.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'File 10/4 I Trade Reports' [‎352r] (716/1102), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/1344, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023282023.0x000075> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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