Page 591 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

POLITICAL RESIDENCY FOB 191ft. 95

In August the Mission opened a Bible shop in the bazaar with a Bagh­
dadi Christian colporteur in charge.
In November, Dr. Bennett obtained by purchase from the Shaikh a plot
of ground measuring about If acres on which the Mission propose to erect a
hospital for in-door patients and dwelling-houses. The plot is situated to the
west of the town close to the seashore, and is one of the best sites in Kuwait.
The Missionaries have held small religious meetings in private
houses, usually attended by a few Baghdadi Christians, but have not yet com-’
menccd active proselytism,
The public health of Kuwait has been-
PubHc Health.
on the whole good.
The A gency Dispensary was open throughout the year and the total num­
ber of patients treated, during the 11 months (January to November), amount­
ed to 3,745, averaging a daily attendance of 34-62 as against 50-56 last year.
Of the 3,745 patients. 2,729 were men and 1,016 women and children. The
chief reason for this falling off is the advent of the American Mission Dispen­
sary which also affords free treatment.
Only 35 vaccinations were performed during the year, of which 25 proved
successful and the results of the rest are unknown.
The dispensary was rebuilt during the year at a cost of some Rs. 3,500
which sum includes quarters for the Assistant Surgeon.
Quarantine.—No regular quarantine has yet been established in Kuwait,
though the Shaikh has consented to fairly effective measures in that direction.
In April, when Busbire was plague-infected, passengers were detained
in large boats to undergo the quarantine period, and when Maskat, Muham-
mcrah and Basrah were cholera-infected, the passengers on the mail steamers
were released after medical inspection as the steamer generally reached Ku­
wait on the expiry of the necessary period.
It is, however, almost impossible to keep any check over native boats.
The Shaikh's Customs continue to be managed by Abdul Mehsin, the
Shaikh’s landing contractor. His
Customs Administration. management seems satisfactory and no
complaints have reached the Agency.
Relations between the Customs and the local Agent of the British India
Steam Navigation Company have continued to be friendly and conciliatory.
Lighters have lx?en promptly supplied in large numbers whenever re­
quired. In this respect it is a fact that Kuwait is considerably ahead of other
ports in the Gulf. A few small rooms have been added to the existing Cus­
toms building during the year for the storage of loose grains.
The following ships of His Majesty’s
Naval a&i Marine.
Navy visited Kuwait during the year :—
H. M. S. ** Redbreast " twice in the month of August; H. M. S. “ Sphinx ”
once in
_ November; and the H. M. S. “ Odin ” in December accompanying His
Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief.
His Excellency Rear Admiral Edmond J*. W. Slade, M.V.O., Com­
mander-in-Chief, East Indies Squadron, visited Kuwait towards the close of
the year m the R. I. M. S. “ Lawrence.” The usual visits were exchanged and
arms traffic matters touched on with the Shaikh. On the following day His
Excellency the Admiral and his party again landed and made a tour of the
town, before leaving for Bushire.
R. I. M. S. “ Lawrence ” visited Kuwait five times during the year.
Piracy. About the eud of June a Kuwait boom, belonging to a
uhich was. Proc,eedinS to the P^l banks, was pirated

tSTiKSS* meD' W6rS mUrdCred'the Cash and Provisions removed and