Page 291 - PERSIAN 9 1931_1940

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serving. great countries like India and Australia must look upon it ns a .some­
what irksome duty to have to come down at Kuwait. There is however always
1he political aspect ol the case to be thought of. The Shaikh of Kuwait was not
out to get Jus ioOO a year only, when ho signed the Civil Air Agreement early in
the year, but was thinking of his people’s interests as well. His view is that
the Company conirncted for a fixed sum of money to do their best, to call at his
State regularly, with their aircraft. They have however during 11)34 shown a
rather unfortunate tendency to want to cut. Kuwait out. This makes the
♦Shaikh think he is not being treated quite fairly. The question is being dealt
with under separate report.
4. On the other hand it is satisfactory to record, as one writes this report,
that Imperial Airways have inaugurated a bi-weekly service to and from the
Hust as from 1st January 1935.
5. The Civil Agreement officially known as “ The Agreement for the Regu­
lation and Control of Civil Aircraft ”, was signed by the Political Agent and
the »Shaikh on the 23rd May 1934.

By an exchange of letters the privileges of Royal Air Force aircraft were
confirmed.
(</) li'.-at Building.—l. A note on the number, tonnage, etc., of boats built
during the year will be found in the Trade Report for 1934.
2. Speaking generally the boat building industry was stagnant in L934.
This being almost entirely due to the continued depression in the pearl trade.
For instance out of some 700 pearl boats which are able to go to sea, only 277
actually went to the “ hanks ”. The remainder were laid up and kept in
repair.
3. Two interesting “ contracts ” were however given to Kuwait in the
shipbuilding line during 1934, which helped the local industry not a little :
(a) The Iraq Government ordered the pontoons for the new boat bridge
at Aniara to be built in Kuwait.
(b) The Basra Port Trust ordered a specially designed dhow, for the
use of the Iraq Customs Police service. This latter on completion
will, it is understood, be lined near the water line with steel
plates ns a protection against rifle fire.
(e) Pearl Season.—1. One has to again record with regret Hint, tlus stuple
and practically only industry of Kuwait, was once again a failure in 1934.
2. The sail-making and shark oil industry which goes with boat building,
•was similarly sympathetically affected.
3. The attenuated pearl fleet, put to sea between 3rd May and 25lb May
-(Rakba), and returned from the banks on 27th .September, when as usual the
Ruler proceeded to the banks and gave the signal for the fleet’s return by firing
a gun salvo from his yacht.
4. As usual “ scurvy” made its appearance among the divers, but
apparently not in such bad form as on previous occasions. Neither Captains
nor Ruler appear to recognise the wastage of man power which results from
the dread disease. But then the Arab places small value on human life.
5. It is interesting to record that several hundred Iraqi tribesmen as well
as an even larger quota from Saudi Arabia came down to Kuwait to try then-
luck on the annual dive.
(/) Poverty in the Town of Kuwait.—1. This was once again a feature of
the Town’s life during 1934, and must be attributed to the continued
<• Blockade ” by Bin Sand, the “ depressed ” pearl trade of the last live
years, and general world conditions.
2. The Ruler continued throughout the year to give one square meal a day
to the 1 ‘ down and out
3. The signing bv the Shaikh of the " Oil ” Agreement on 23rd Decomh'r
1934, was received with great rejoicing by the “ out of work ” elements in tho
Town and the writer was for a time besieged by scores of Bcduoin asking when
work was going to be started by the Kuwait Oil Company. There is little doubt