Page 569 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

AIL.
51
TOE THE YEAR 1917.

CHAPTER XL
REPORT POR THE KUWAIT AGENCY FOR THE
^MINISTRATION
YEAR 1917.
There are no signs of retardation in the growth of material prosperity of
this town as noticed in last year’s report.
General. On the contrary, the ratio of improve­
ment has increased and this is due chiefly to two causes, greater demands in
Central Arabia for foodstuffs and piece-goods, whose other markets have been
closed as a result of the war, and an exceptionally brisk trade wilh Persian
ports. A good pearling season was also a contributing factor. Kuwait is one
of those places, which, far from feeling any bad effects from these world-wide
hostilities, has actually grown richer and Jaappier. Pearl merchants often sigh
for the close of the war, hoping that this will put up the price of the gems to
their pre-war figures, but the catch has been good, prices none too bad and
they have little to complain of. There have been no failures among them.
Towards the end of the year the British India Steam Navigation Company
resumed their fortnightly service, a boon which has been greatly appreciated
by the Shaikh and people.
Two regrettable Incidents mark the year 1917. His Excellency Shaikh
Jabiras-SuWh, C.S.I., died on February 5th, after a short illness from acute
gastritis. He was a very -debonair and pleasant gentleman whose mildness and
affability made him a popular ruler. The other misfortune was an unprece­
dentedly severe epidemic of small-pox, which has caused the death of several
thousand persons up to the present time.
Shaikh Jabir was succeeded by his younger brother Salim-al-Mubarak,
himself a man of over fifty. A very different type of man from his brother,
he is a stern Muhammadan aDd an uncomprising ruler. Not content with
maintaining order in the town, Slmikh Salim has taken steps to secure the
frontiers of his territory on the desert side and to regain the influence among
the Bedouins which his father, the late Sir Mubarak, formerly weilded.
Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. A. Hamilton, Political Agent, proceeded on a
special mission to Ne’jd. Leaving Kuwait on October 12th, he travelled first
to Ziifi and after visiting the towns of Boraiaah, Anaizeh, Mudhnib and Sbakra,
In all of which he had an excellent reception, arrived at Riadh in the middle
of November. He remained there for three weeks as the guest of the Imam
Abdulaziz bic Saud, and thence returned by the Hafar-al-Ats-al-Habba route
on December 28th.
During the year 4,700 eatnels, 19,975 sheep, 1,111 cattle, and 3,000 tons
stores, were purchased in Kuwait for the
Supplies h. the Expeditionary late.
Commissariat Department Zaid Budai, a
local merchant, purchased the sheep and cattle, and Abdulaziz bin Hasan the
camels. Both men have rendered conspicuous services to Government during
the war. The Shaikh fell in with the wishes of Government in furnishing
native craft for the conveyance of foodstuffs from India to Basrah. 2,500 tons
of cargo-space was thus reserved for ships going to India with dates and return-
V1? *dth grain. Besides this, large numbers of small craft have been employed
tn river transport on the Shaft-al-Areh,
5he condensing plant is now ready to work only awaiting a supply of
edi, of which there is a temporary snort-
Waiter coodenainf pbmfc.
age.
2,616 out-patients were treated.in the charitable dispensary compared with
Public Heattk. 2,823 last year. 292 operations were per­
formed ana 65 vaccinations.
of smail-pox, terads the latter part of the year, with
S*eat mortality, was probably spread by the abnormal influx of Bedouin tribe*