Page 277 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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evidencing the confidence of the community in the Bank,
probably shows that merchants find more difficulty in
employing their money and that smaller stocks of goods

are held by them. The Kuwait Government is ofcourse the
largest holder of stocks of sugar, cereals, etc.
Rates of exchange fluctuated widely during the year.The
lowest point touched by the dinar was Rs. ll/l/- and the

highest Rs. 13/4/-. Now that war risk rates of insurance
by air have been reduced, the import or export of notes
from and to India is facilitated and this wide fluctua­
tion is unlikely to repeat itself.

While the townspeople are now quite accustomed to the
use of rupee notes there is a persistent demand for
rupee coin for purchases from the beduln and for chari­
table gifts, a demand which the Bank is unable wholly

to satisfy. The market has benefited considerably
from large supplies of small denominations of rupee
notes and moderate supplies of nickel coin imported by
the Bank from India.

The Financial Department and other state departments
maintain accounts with the Bank, and the former have
purchased from time to time considerable amounts of
foreign exchange in payment of their imports of cereals.

XV. VISITORS
The number of visitors greatly increased this year, and
the majority stayed or had meals at the Agency.

XVI. METEOROLOGICAL
Total rainfall during the year .. 7*57"
Maximum temperature (in July) « . 117°

Minimum temperature (in February) 3d°

26th January 1944. POLITICAL AGENT', KUWAIT.