Page 586 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

CHAPTER XI.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE POLITICAL AGENCY,
KUWAIT, FOR THE YEAR 1910.

Climate and Rainfall.—The year 1910 fulfilled the better climatic
conditions anticipated in last year’s
General.
.report, for the summer was comparatively
milder, the highest maximum shade temperature registered being 114° for
the 23rd August as against 116-9° for the 31st July 1909, and good rain also
fell, more than 9.V inches being registered at the Agency Observatory; conse­
quently, with an abundant supply of fodder in the desert the Bedouin were
able to make up the heavy losses they suffered during the previous two years’
drought. Latest arrivals from the interior report fair rainfall throughout,
and the present season is expected to be favourable.
An extract prepared from the Agency daily Meteorological reports is
attached.
Local Affairs.—Much dissatisfaction and discontent has been preva­
lent during the year owirn* to the continued heavy exactions of Shaikh
Mubarak to finance bis raids against desert offenders. Though the people
have suffered heavily pecuniarily and trade has to some extent been hampered,
no concerted action bv the leading men of the place seems to be possible against
the Shaikh s iron will and a half-hearted attempt made by some leading pearl-
merchants to represent their grievances only lead to their burdens being
increased.
In January, the Shaikh imprisoned 15 petty shopkeepers for discussing
religious points with more heat than discretion and fined them $110 apiece.
There have been no murders or dacoities in the town and law aDd order
are well maintained.
Exchange.—The Maria Theresa dollar which used to fluctuate so much
was fixed by the Shaikh at 85 Indian pice per dollar, a rate of exchange
equivalent to Rs. 132-8125 to $100. On the dollar becoming scarce and the
exchange rising above this equivalent, it would appear at first sight therefore
to be to the shroffs advantage to disburse copper at the fixed rate, but it is
just at this stage that a shortage of copper occurs. The only possible reason
seems to be that the shroffs are afraid of the public seizing the opportunity to
exchange the two silver coins through the medium of copper, and, therefore,
to keep up the delusion of a shortage of copper, they also discount the rupee,
thus creating an artificial exchange between the rupee and its own frictional
money. The difficulty is due to there being no small change for cither the
dollar or the rupee except Indian copper pice, and to the Shaikh’s well-meant
attempt to fix its relation to the dollar (the real Kuwait currency) in order to
simplify petty transactions and prevent fraud on the poor.
General ignorance and persistent preference for the dollar currency
• 'iitate against the establishment of an equitable and stable exchange. The
Political Agent imported copper pice to avoid loss to Government servants,
though probably there are ample stores of copper locked up by the shroffs.
The matter is one which it may be possible to take up later when the rupee
comes to be in more general favour.
Death of His Britannic Majesty King Edward VII.—The sad news of
the demise of His Majesty the King-Emperor, Edward VII, was received on
the 9th May, the Agency and the Shaikh’6 flags wore at once half masted
and condolence visits by the Shaikh and other leading men of Kuwait paid
to the Political Agent.
Bin Savd’s visit.—On the 26th February, Abdul Aziz-bin-Abdur
Rahraan-bin-Saud, the Amir of Najd, arrived in Kuwait with his younger