ملف ٢٩٠٨/١٩٠٧ الجزء ٢ "البحرين: ترتيبات الحجر الصحي" [و‎‎١‎٧‎٧] (١١٢/١٠٣)

[Confidential.]
No. 778, dated Bushire, the 8th (received 17th) March 1908.
From Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have thti ViQiKjur to fiddress y°u on the subject of quarantine arrange-
ments at Bahrein. 5
2. From the correspondence received under your endorsement No 208-
E,B„ dated 18th January 1908, it is clear that His Majesty’s Government and
the Government of India consider the question of putting the quarantine
arrangements in the Persian Gulf on a proper footing, as one of the utmost
importance, and I venture to make the following proposals which will
inevitably involve a certain expenditure on the part of Government, a portion
of which, namely, the purchase of a stove, has been already sanctioned. In
Bahrein, No. 627, dated 26th October 1907. conne Ction I.beg to forward a Copy
of a communication received from Captain
Prideaux on the subject, together with a translation of a letter from the
Sheikh of Bahrein to the Political Agent agreeing in principle to the impo
sition of quarantine restrictions at that port,
3. As regards the cost of instituting quarantine measures I attach herewith
a memorandum by the Residency Surgeon showing the requirements, together
with the estimated cost, from which it will be seen that the initial expenditure
will be Rs. 5,000 (apart from the cost of stove separately sanctioned), while
the recurring expenditure is estimated to amount to approximately Rs. 2,964
per annum.
I concur with the views expressed by the Residency Surgeon as to
proposed cost and have only the following remarks to offer by way of
explanation
{a) The Assistant Surgeons at other Gulf Ports receive Rs. 150
per mensem special quarantine allowance. In view of the
faot that the Assistant Surgeon at Bahrein receives a local
allowance of Rs. 100 per mensem, I consider Rs. 100 would
he a sufficient allowance for performing the functions of Port
Health Officer on behalf of the Sheikh of Bahrein, in addition
to his own duties.
(J) Wages of guards. Rates of wages rule extremely high in Bahrein,
and as it is desirable to enlist a good class of man, as the duties
are of a responsible nature, I have therefore proposed Rs. 18
for the guards and Rs. 25 for the Chief Guard who would
act as caretaker of the quarantine camp and mechanician.
(<?) Miscellaneous charges. These will include boat hire, petty repairs
to buildings, purchase of disinfectants and various charge for
which it is somewhat difficult to estimate exactly. I have
estimated Rs f 600 per annum for normal expenditure, but a larger
expenditure which cannot be accurately foretold, would naturally
be incurred during epidemics.
As regards quarantine fees I suggest that the following fees which are
approximately the same as those levied in Persian ports should be charged,
viz. ;—
1st Class
2nd „
3rd „
• • • *
Rs. a. p.
. 7 8 0
. 5 0 0
. 2 8 0
It is impossible to estimate the receipts which will be recovered on account
of fees, as no ships are regularly in quarantine, and there is no basis on
which ’to frame an estimate. In any ease except during an epidemic receipts
will not he large, and need hardly be taken into consideration.
4. Sheikh Esa has given a suitable piece of ground for a quarantine
station, but Captain Prideaux considers, and I concur with his opinion, that