'File 8/16 Bahrain Intelligence Report' [‎12r] (23/154)

-3-
45. L OCAL NEWS .
(i) Reference paragraph 32 of intelligence Summary No.3.
The Bahrain Government are making an attempt to control
the spread of venereal disease and propose to engage two Indian
doctors to carry out the registration of prostitutes and the
regular inspection of brothels.
(ii) The Bahrain Government have been worried about the acti
vities of certain darwishes who have recently come to Bahrain
from Oman and have set themselves up as religious leaders. They
trade on the sale of amulets and charms and have persuaded some
of the younger members of their following to submit to the Zikr
exercises practised by the darwishes of North Africa. In these
exercises nails and pins are driven into the body of the devotee
when he has been worked into a state of hysterical insensibility.
The devotees appear to feel no pain at the time but injuries
are often inflicted, and one young man has had to be taken to the
Government Hospital. Two darwishes have been arrested in this
connection.
(iii) Recently 30 school boys and their teachers spent 4 days
of the spring holidays on Hawar Island. They left on the 21st
and returned to Bahrain, on the 25th.
46 • C ORRIGENDUM .
Reference paragraph 34 of intelligence Summary No.3.
This should be corrected to read as follows
Maximum '-emperature
Minimum cemperature
Maximum humidity
Minimum humidity
76°F. on 2 . 2 . f 47.
53°F. on 8.2. f 47.
97'# on 10.2.47.
49€ on 5.2.'47.
47. SHIPPING .
Twenty-six ships (14 British, 6 American. 3 Norwegian,
1 Danish, 1 Swedish and 1 Panamanian ) called at the port of
Bahrain during the fortnight. imports were 846 tons of general
cargo for Bahrain and 700 tons for transhipment to the mainland.
251,600 tons of petroleum products were exported during the
period under report. Export figures in respect of general cargo
have not yet been received.
48. METEOROLOGICAL .
Maximum temperature 78°F. on 19.2.'47.
Minimum temperature 53°F. on 27.2.'47.
Maximum humidity 94$ on 20.2. '47.
Minimum humidity 44$ on 27.2. '47.
Rainfall 0.4 inch.
NS.
Sd./- A.C, GALLOWAY
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.