Page 268 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

126 PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT

CHAPTER XI.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT FOR TUB KUWAIT AGENCY
FOR
THE YEAR 1913.

Politically tlio year 1913 has been of more than usual importance in lh
0t„ml history of Kuwait but, from an economic
point of view, it was rather unsatisfactory
for the anticipations of a dry year in last year’s report unhappily proved to bn
true and a bad pearl season further aggravated the depression of local
merchants.
The caravan routes, however, were safe throughout the year, but the desert
nearly everywhere, was barren and the condition of tlio cattle and live-stock
consequently poor, leading to a comparatively small trade with Bedouin. A
had pearl-season hears particularly hardly upon the poorer classes and those who
are improvident were to he seen selling their women’s jewellery, household
goods and even garments in order to make both ends meet.
The ensuing year, so far at least as the desert tribes and people are concern­
ed, promises a better outlook, for fairly heavy mins have been reported in the
hinterland, a fact which, together with a mild winter, usually means ample
grazing for flocks and herds.
The t-otal rainfall registered at the Agency Observatory was only 3 inches
and 13 cents, which is much below the
Climate and Rainfall.
average of past years. The summer was
unusually mild and late, for the highest maximum temperature recorded during
the year was 113 5 for the 18th August, and September proved to be the only
really oppressive month. The lowest minimum temperature recorded was 39 8
for the Gth February as against 217 and 3G 0 in 1911 and 1912, respectively.
An extract prepared from, the Agency daily meteorological observations
forms an Appendix to this report.
In the beginning of January “Klian’* or “Kapandari” of which one
Khalil bin Ebrahim Khattanhad the farm
Local affair*.
for some R4,000 for 3 years, was rc-
farmed by the Shaikh to one Jasim bin Mahammad Budai for R7,000. The
probable reason for this large advance was some private ill-feeling between
the old and new farmers for the Shaikh took the unusual course of cancelling
Khalil’s agreement and refunding the proportion due for the unexpired portion
of his farm when ho accepted Jasim’s higher bid.
In the 3rd week of April it was reported that some Katif (or KAtr) Arabs,
who came to buy wool, gbi, sheep, etc., from Awazira Arabs on the coast south
of Kuwait, were summarily dealt with by Shaikh Salim bin Mubarak. It
appears that, for fiscal purposes, it is necessaiy that all such purchases should
be made in Kuwait town and to prevent a recurrence of such practices Shaikh
SaUm confiscated all that these Katif (or Katr) Arabs had, excepting only their
boats, and “sent them empty away.”
Garbled reports having reached Kuwait, in May, of a settlement
between the British and Turkish Governments regarding the Baghdad Railway*
under which the terminus would be at Kuwait, a number of merchants have
been acquiring sites from the Shaikh on the foreshore west of the town,
rates distinctly remunerative to the Shaikh.
At the instance of Shaikh Nasir bin Mubarak and some young Arabs with
*soi-disant’ aspirations to . progress, *
Charitable IoiUtotlona.
charitable fund was opened, in February,
with the laudable object of importing a Muhammadan doctor for a W-
dispensary, to provide funds for supplying water freo of cost to deserving P°
ana for granting freo passages by steamer to distressed Muhammadans, clcj|
etc. Over Ii2,900 was said to hav< been subscribed and a house given as

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