Page 97 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

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RE8IDEN0Y FOR TITS TEAR 1905*1006. 87

10. Navy.—H\& Majesty’s Ships Sphinx and Redbreast visited Koweifc
once on different occasions and the R. I. M. S. Lawrence 8 times during
the year.
11. Survey.—Survey work wjb resumed by the R. 1. M. 8. Investigator
in the beginning of October and maintained till the end of December when
she proceeded to Bushire and thence to Aden. The survey work was done
throughout unopposed.
12. Koweit Currency.—At times the value of the Maria Theresa dollar
has fluctuated considerably during the paBt year.
13. Pearl Fisheries.—The pearling Bearon commenced in May and
closed in September. Almost half of the population of Koweit went to the
fisheries. It is interesting to note that in the early days of September some
of the pearl boats, which returned to Koweit without the permission of their
Chief Nakhoda, who alone has the power to declare the season closed, were
sent back by the Shoikh to continue fishing pearls until their Chief had
announced by gun-firo that the soason was closed. They went back and
returned with the rest of the fleet on the 15th of September, the larger boats
firing guns as they approached the town. The season was a very successful
one and the pearls’found were of superior quality and commanded favourable
prices.
14. CeyIon pearl fisheries.—About 3,000 Koweit pearl divers proceeded
to the Ceylon pearl fisheries during the. year.
15. Boat building.—A largo number of new pearling boats were built
during the j car. The building industry provides employment for about 300
native carpenters whose wages are from £ a real to 4 reals per day exclusive of
food. The wood and nails employed in the construction are imported from
India.
16. Sheikh Mobarak's relations with Turkish officials.—Sheikh Mobarak’s
relations with Turkish officials have been friendly and satisfactory.
He has subscribed a sum of T. £150 for the construction of new barracks
at Bussorah and received a letter of thanks with a photograph of the completed
portion of the barracks. It was said ia the letter that no one in Iraq had
contributed as handsomely. Sheikh Mobarak then contributed a further sum
of T. £200. The Sheikh has always received Turkish officials well and treated
them with kindness and generosity.
17. Turkish Troops.—As many as 500 Turkish soldiers and officials of
rank, mostly deserters, took shelter in Koweit and were invariably fed and
passed on to Bussorah by Sheikh Mobarak. The soldiers always complained
that in Nejd they were kept on half rations and badly clothed and were, there­
fore, compelled to run away to save their lives. Their condition, as seen while
in Koweit, was miserable.
18. Foreigners.—A Turkish subject named Hatinaglou, with a com-
panion, arrived early in June, They were in Koweit fora week and requested
the Sheikh to allow them to open a trading house in Koweit. This was
refused and they were told to quit Koweit. They, however, paid a visit to
Kathama.
19. Relations between the Sheikh and the Political Agent.—:The rela­
tions between the Sheikh and the Political Agent have been very friendly
tbrongbout the year. J
20. Official changes.—The charge of the Agency was held by Captain
8. G. Knox during the year except from the 24th of May to 25th of October
during which period the current duties of the Agency were entrusted to the
Assistant Surgeon.
8. G. KNOX, Captain,
Political Agent* Koweit.

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