Coll 30/52 (2) 'Persian Gulf, Diaries: Bahrain News and Intelligence Reports' [‎406v] (812/951)

His Highness Shaikh Sir Hamad bin 'Isa A1 Khalifah,
K.C.I.E., C.S.I., Ruler of Bahrain, left for A1 Khobar on ^
the 20th November 1941 accompanied by Shaikh Mohammad bin
'Isa A1 Khalifah and other members of the ,A1 Khalifah family.
There are also two Indian medical assistants from the State
Hospital with the party. Shaikh Hamad intends to spend two
nights at A1 Khobar before setting out for his camp" at Raudha
al ousuma in the Dibdiba area, stated to be about six hours
run from Kuwait.
It is understood that Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Jiluwi,
brother of the Governor of Hasa and ^atif, met the party on
arrival at Al Khobar.
(ii) It is understood that Mr. Hussain Yateem intends to
set up a soap factory An East India Company trading post. in Bahrain. Soap is already manufactured
by a local Hindu merchant and the new enterprise will undoubted
ly meet the urgent local demand for soap.
(iii) There is a great demand for scrap iron, pipes, old
machinery, motor accessories etc. in Iraq. Bahrain merchants
.are .receiving numerous orders for such articles from Iraq and
it is reported that Yusuf Fakhroo recently shipped 50 motor
tyres and 18 inner tubes of British make to Basra.
(iv) The price of gold sovereigns has recently declined
from Rs 43/- to Rs 39/8. Thie is stated to be due to the fact
that Iran who used to be a big buyer of gold has now stopped
buying.* Numerous telegrams are being received from Basra by
Bahrain merchants to the effect that the prices of gold sove
reigns are declining and that there are no buyers.
(v) A nakhuda who recently arrived here from a sea
voyage reports that piracy is going on, chiefly in an area
extending from Ruus al Jibal to Khor Fakkan, and along the
south coast of Iran. He declares that several boats have been
looted and that most of the pirates on the Arab side belong
to the Shihuh tribe. Two boats carrying dates from Basra
were recently attacked by Persian pirates near Chiru and 100
baskets of dates were looted. A Persian boat laden with fire
wood was also attacked and Fs 60/- stolen. The Persian pirates
are said to have obtained their arms by purchase from members
of the Iranian Amniyah Force who, owing.to non-receipt of
their pay, were compelled to sell their weapons.
(vi) There is a great deman^for chandals (rafters) and
"murabba" wood in Iraq. Large orders have been placed with
Bahrain merchants and one Iraqi merchant named Ishaq Mulla
(a Jew) who arrived here recently purchased not less than
100 score of "murabba" wood for export to Iraq and is trying
to buy more.
(vii) Shaikh Mani* of Dubai has recently returned to Bahrain
from a stay in Qatar. It is understood that some Bedouin
of the Beni Hajir tribe, employed as guards in the town by the
Shaikh of Qatar, attempted to shoot him while he was staying
in the house of Abdullah bin Darwish in Dohah. It is under
stood that one of their relatives was killed during the Dubai
troubles some 3 years ago.
(viii)/-