'Adminisistration [Administration] Reports 1931-1935' [‎112r] (223/416)

Manamah, Muharraq, Hidd and Galali, where the waste water had already
become a danger to public health. Orders were also given for the provision of
suitable valves to prevent water being wasted and for the casing of all bores.
Certain initial and annual fees have been laid down and provision has been made
for inspection by a Government official.
8. Agriculture. —(i) The experimental orange trees have again borne
excellent fruit and when and if more funds become available, it should be
possible to develop this branch of agriculture.
(n) A quantity of ‘ mesquit ’ seeds (a thorny quick growing tree suitable
for firewood) were obtained from Dera Ismail Khan by the courtesy of Mr. B. J.
Gould, Resident in Vv T aziristan ; and both seeds and seedlings have been given
to His Excellency Shaikh Hamad bin ’Isa A1 Khalifah and to certain local indi
viduals interested in agriculture. It was hoped that if the experiment was suc
cessful large areas might be planted with them in order to avoid dependence on
’Oman and the Persian Coast for supplies of firewood. As, however, an oil
industry is developing in Bahrain, there is not perhaps the same necessity, as
there was in the past, for securing an home-grown supply of firewood.
(m) An endeavour has been made by one firm (A. and M. Yatim) with an
Indian agriculturist in partnership, to start a vegetable garden for English and
Indian vegetables. The experiment was unsuccessful as the land was too
exposed to the high winds which prevail in Bahrain.
9. Customs. —(i) The Customs revenue amounted to Rs. 5,53,393 as against
Rs. 6,14-,594 collected during the previous year. The decline in commodity
prices is chiefly responsible for this decline.
(ii) The circumstances attendant on the visit of a ship, the S. S. “ Ahmedi ”,
to Ras Tanurah in October 1932 raised with the Sa’udi Arab Government, the
question of the levy of transit dues on cargo transhipped at Bahrain for ports
on the mainland. Endeavours are being made to bring about a settlement of
this dispute on terms agreeable to both countries. In the meantime cargo for
the mainland is being transhipped from steamer to lighter on payment of two per
cent, duty only.
10. Municipalities .— (i) Palling revenues have prevented the two Munici
palities of Manamah and Muharraq from doing anything beyond the usual
routine work of town cleaning and small improvements in road widening in the
bazaars and elsewhere.
(ii) In Muharraq a causeway has been constructed as far as the deep water
of the channel between Muharraq and Manamah. The funds were provided
from the i thilth ’ by the permission of the executors and the work was super
vised by the Muharraq Municipality.
11. Public Works. —Owing to financial stringency no works of any magnitude
were carried out.
12. Education. —(?') Six boys schools and two girls schools were in existence
on the 1st January. No schools were opened or closed during the year,
(ii) On the 1st January six hundred and twenty-three boys and one hundred
and ninety girls were on the rolls and on the 31st December, six hundred and
twenty-nine boys and one hundred and ninety-eight girls. There were twenty-
seven teachers employed throughout the year.
( Hi) Boys who pass out of Government schools are now given School Leaving
Certificates and no candidate for a vacancy in the Bahrain Government offices
is accepted, unless he has a certificate. Students of other schools are allowed
to take the Government school examination on payment of a fee.
(iv) The Persian school has recently been enlarged.
(v) A school in Manamah started a year ago by a Bahraini Shi’ah is doing
well. ' 1 i 1 ! :■ I ; y .1 i . : j! • 1
13. Trade. —(i) It has not yet been possible to summarize the accounts of
the Diving Clerks in order to ascertain the value of the catch. From all accounts,
however, the catch was poor in quality and quantity and the market was stagnant.
Most of the nakhudahs sold their pearls to merchants but the latter were unable
to find buyers.
(ii) Several leading Pearl Merchants have suggested the advisability of
considering the closing of the pearl banks for a season. This would benefit
those who hold pearls from past seasons but if adopted would mean that divers