Page 275 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

POR T1IK YEAR 1013. 133
When Bushiro was plague infected in April passengers arriving at Kuwait’
were quarantined in boats near the Shaikh’s
Quarantine.
Customs, tho Shaikh having abandoned
jviirain Island on llio scoro of difficulties regarding water, supplies and com-
jflunication.
Military Assistant Surgeon C. C. Kolly, I.S.M.D., was in charge of tho
dispensary and quarantine arrangements throughout the year.
The Shaikh was approached by the Political Agent with a viow to pro­
viding a plot of ground for a Christian
Chilatian Cemetery.
Cemetery. He very generously granted a
plot 150 feet square to the west of the town free. Tho plot has been marked
Jud tho Government of India have been asked to make a special grant of
money to admit of its being adequately fence ! in during 1914.
Tho administration of tho Shaikh’s Customs rested with Abdul Musin
and Haji Ali Abda until August 1913
Customs Administration.
when the former, who was in the last
stage of consumption, was given leave and one Suliman bin Badr, a local Arab,
was appointed in his place on a salary of R200 per mensem plus a loan of
BIO,000 for trading purposes Haji Ali Abda was removed on the representa­
tions of the new incumbent who manned his Department with an entirely new
staff. The new Customs Master seemed unable to realize his responsibilities
and was soon in trouble with the British India Steam Navigation Company’s
local agents over mislanded and excess cargo, which he appeared to regard as
his perquisite; in November, however, the Shaikh himself discovered that
Suliman bin Badr had been secretly selling all mislauded cargo and appropriat­
ing the proceeds. He immediately dismissed and imprisoned him for about
5 days, only releasing him on the payment in cosh of 113,000 against some
B10,000 claimed for embezzled Customs receipts and £12,000 on account of
dates given to him by the Shaikh last year. He is said to have since paid the
balance to the Shaikh. Abdul Latif bin Abdul Jalil, a local Arab, has now
been appointed Customs .Master, with Mr. "William Hickey, a Basrah Christian
and formerly clerk and manager of Messrs. Gray Paul and Company at Kuwait
as Hamal-Bashi. Unless these two men give way to the many temptations
which present themselves in the Customs for enriching themselves, it is hoped
that the management of the Customs will be considerably improved.
Yusuf Nasrani who was taken as a clorlc in the Customs last year was
dismissed in April. His dismissal was unexpected and was probably tho result
of intrigues on the part of the other members of the Customs establishment.
The Customs premises have been considerably enlarged during the year
by the reclamation of more ground and tho extension of covered space. The
whole has also been properly fenced and merchandise awaiting clearance is
not now exposed to the old risk of loss and damage by thieves and weather.
The Shaikh, with a view to making merchants clear their goods sooner and to
avoid accumulations, is said to be contemplating the introduction of wharfage
dues shortly. He has also, it is reported, ordered from England a 3-ton hand-
power crane for landing and shipping heavy packages at the wharves.
The following ships of His Majesty’s ’Navy and the Royal Indian Marine
Naval and Marine. visited Kuwait during the year:—
H. M. S. “ Philomel ” on the 11th January.
H. M. S. “ Pelorus ” on the 24th January.
H. M. S. “ Odin ” on the 18th ^February.
I. G. T. S. “ Patrick Stewart ” on tho 20th March and 23rd .December.
H. M. S. “Alert ” on the 20th April.
H. M. S. “ Fox ” on the 26th October.
H. M. S. " Sphinx” on the 11th November.
H. M. S. “ Swiftsure ” on the 4th December.
R. I. M. 8, “Lawrence” on tho 2-j.th November and 4th December.
As a result of tho establishment of the Arms Warehouse in Maskat the
illicit traffic in arms appears to have died
Arms Traffic.
out entirely, so far at least as Kuwait is