Page 291 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

AND THE MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1007-1908. 107

purchasing landed property in his son’s name in Basrah. From the 18th
January the management of the Customs was entrusted to the head tally
clerk, Abdul Molisin, a Kowoit bred Arab. There were no complaints until
tho lattor part of tlio year when the Sheikh enhanced the Customs dues to
4 per cent, on the invoico value on all goods imported and 10 per cent, on
certain goads such as sugar, tea, etc. The duty on firearms, however, remains
unaltered which is $0 per rifle and $2 again if exported. Goods are now
subject to examination of tho Customs premises prior to the levy of duty.
Tho enhanced rates of duty are unpopular among the trading folk ns formerly
duty was levied per package and per 100 bags irrespective of value of goods
and goods wore not inspected at the Customs. Aman has been pardoned and
reduced to a common guardsman to the Sheikh.
The landing chargos, which are quite distinct from Customs, have been
changed. The table below shows the alteration:—
Old ratCB. Revised rates.

$ 3
For every 100 bags 6ugar 20 20
,, „ 100 „ rice 8 10
„ „ 4 „ coffee . I 1
and for every other package 2 1

A portion of this money goes to pay for hire of lighters and wages of
coolies and the rest is handed over to the Sheikh. In former days, when
Aman was in charge, the Customs revenue entirely remained with him and the
Sheikh only issued drafts on Aman for sums required by him. A'man used to
pay Customs otlicials, and also paid hire of lighters and coolies. But this
arrangement has been changed since January, when it was fouud that Aman was
misusing the Customs money. The Customs revenue, as soon as it is collected,
is paid over to the Sheikh himself and all transactions are made entirely under
his personal supervision. The landing charges also, when collected, are paid
into the Sheikh’s coffers. The landing contractor only pays wages of coolies
and hire of lighters and the rest of tho Customs establishment is paid by the
Sheikh or his representative.
Arms Trade.
Arms traffic has flourished during the year. Though the importation
of this commodity into Koweit by the Hritish India steamers is very small,
the trade is nevertheless on the increase for merchants now import arms from
Maskat in country craft.
The few items of smuggling and other notes which came under the
Political Agent’s notice may be of interest.
In April nows reached Koweit to the effect that the Turkish authorities
were actively stopping tho smuggling of arms into Turkish Arabia. A Nejdi
by name Saleh, who was taking a fairly large consignment through Sefwan,
fell in with tho Turkish soldiers. They asked him where he was bound for
and he replied to Zubair. Il\ spite of £T40 which he offered as a bribe to
the Commandant, Saleh was arrested, the £T40 confiscated and he and his
rifles taken off to Basrah. It was said then that Turkish soldiers were stationed
round Zubair stopping all the roads to prevent smuggling of arms.
Monsieur Elbaz and Monsieur Vram, said to bo Frenchmen, visited
Koweit during the year. Elbaz was said to be a nephew of Monsieur Go^uyer
of Maskat aud Monsieur Yram belonged to a different firm, also of Maskat.
They both came to collect outstanding money. Monsieur Elbaz, while in
Kuweit, remitted, in two instalments, to the Frenoh Bank in* Bombav
11s. 52,000 and Monsieur Vram Its. 10,000 to Maskat. ^
It would appear that Sheikh Mubarak was personally interested in the
arms trade and connected with the firm of Monsieur Goguyer. Monsieur
Elbaz’s piescnco in Koweit was brought to the notice of the Sheikh but he
professed to he unaware of the fact. Elbaz, while iu Kowoit, went under the
name of Ibrahim. It seems ho had como armed with a letter of introduction
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