Page 272 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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pilgrimage. The removal of the Persian Government's
restrictions on the pilgrimage resulted in an explosion

of pent-up religious fervour this year. Estimating
roughly, about 9,000 Persian pilgrims travelled via
Kuwait — a severe drain on the town's food supplies.
The majority of them were well supplied with funds,

bringing into Kuwait an estimated sum of £ 3,000,000,
the release of which, forced up the cost of all but
mere necessities, whose prices are controlled. The
motor-car market in Kuwait was particularly affected
by the large influx of pilgrims all seeking transport

and the prices of cars reaohed fantastic heights. The
cost of a seat in a lorry to the Holy Places and back,
which was only Rs. 1,200/- last year, reached Rs.5,000/-
this year. Many of the costly vehicles broke down on

the way, but they all reached Mecca in vehicles sent
to their aid by King Ibn Saud and were in time to
perform the Haj.

V. DESERT INTERESTS

The nomads have not been so fortunate as the inhabit­
ants of Kuwait whose incomes have mostly kept pace
with inflation. The Bedouin here rely on a supply of
second-hand American woollen clothes, Indian cotton

piecegoods and cheap staple commodities, whloh are
now either too expensive or not available. For these
they used to.exchange their own high quality wool,ghl,
and meat on the hoof which could be released for

export. Before the Bedouin oan buy their grain, it
must pass through several agencies responsible for
putting up the price, not the least of them being
the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation. They are

tending therefore, more and more, to eat their own
food produots which, however good in quality, do not