'File 19/116 VIII (C 34) Bahrain Miscellaneous' [‎6r] (13/124)

II.
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after drilling for a few days only, they have already reached
a depth of about thirty feet, the water encountered li
the lianamah we~1 is ai)parently the same as that irom which
the principal springs on the island are derived, ana as the
well is located slightly to the North of txaxt the line of
springs, support would appear to be given to the aiove-
mentioned theory that the source of the water must be looked
for on the Persian side of the Gulf.
In regard to the quality of the water found, and the |ix
prospect of finding fresher water at a greater depth, idajor
Holmes had much to say. He was convinced in the first place
that the salt found in the water when it was first struck
has now been reduced more than 50^ (and with this, alter
tasting the water today, I agree), and he considers in the
second place that there is danger of polluting the whole water
supply of Bahrain by drilling deeper through the lower layer
of impervious rock, where there might just as likely be salt
as fresh water. He is however quite willing to do ao as 1ar
as the contracted depth of 600 leet, but only on written
instructions from the Sheikh in reply to a Letter from nim
indicating clearly the risxs involved. I have asked him to
address such a letter to the ^heikh, but 1 would nol consider
it advisable to instruct him to bore deeper, until the water
at present flowing from the well has Deen pppperlv tested,
and further ( inn order to reduce the risk to a minimum) until
a well has been drilled outside the spring area, and indicat-
-ions have been found of the probable geological conditions
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below the lower layer of rock. This would be possible if the
Syndicate were to obtain an oil concession in Bahrain.
Major Holmes argues however that there never was any
real prospect of striking any other than the local spring water,
Mr. Madgewick is, he says, the best geological expert that the
Syndicate have, and his considered opinion is that the Kaneni
wells are purely rain seepages.
I was rather amused by a remark kajor Holmes made
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