Page 570 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

59 ANNUAL REPORT OP TUB PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY

from the interior, one of the results of the war. The town and bazaar
kept clean, and the climate has been mild and hoalfhy.
Lieutenant 0. 0. Kelly, I.S.M.D., hold the post of Quarantine Modical
Officer. Thirteen British India Stea^
Qoartptloe.
Navigation Company’s Steamers and ten
Persian 8tea'm Navigation Company’s called at the port. All wore out of
quarantine. No cases of bubonic plague occurred in town.
These offices have been very efficiently conducted and are*showing pros­
perous returns und have been greatly
Post and Telegraph*.
appreciated by the public.
The returns for the year under report show—
Ordinary P&rcrii . 4,190
V. P. Parcels . • • . . 2,3H
Money Orders • • . . . 4,629
Total value of Money Orders—Rs. 10,30,715.
Number of telegrams—11,851. Value Rs. 10,760.
The rate of exchange between dollars and rupees showed a continuous
appreciation of the local coinage, a cul-
^ minating point being reached in the
period from July to October when it was Rs. 290 per 100$
The rates in December 1917 were:—
As compared with
last year.
Maria Theresa Dollar—290 per 100 • . =152 per 100.
Turkish Lira Rs. 16-2-0 per Lira . = hs. 15-15.
English sovf-reign Rb. 17-6 per £ . = Ps 16-12-5.
English Bank notes were not favourably received, 1- percent, being charged
in exchange for silver.
About 400 boats only left for the pearl banks, the small number being due
Pearl Fishery. chiefly to the paucity of crews to man
tbem, many having migrated to Basrah
in search of more regular employment there.
The haul was a profitable one, valued at about 20 lakhs and most of it was
sent to India for disposal.
His Excellency the Shaikh receives one per cent on the season’s catch.
The prices have not been as good as in pre-war days, but show an improvement
on last year and. were averagely good.
The local customs has been well managed and the lighterage arrangements
Coitom*. in vogue are the best in the Gulf. Ves­
sels are delayed as little as possible, every
facility being given by the Shaikh.
On the accession of the Shaikh aa import duty of 4 percent, was levied on
all commodities. Formerly 4 per cent, was exacted on everything except gold
lace and tobacco, which was paid 10 per cent. At the same time export duty
was abolished, except on goods brought in from the interior, such as wool,
ghee, hides, etc., which continued subject to 4 per cent, duty if exported. His
Excellency the Shaikh takes & great interest in this Department which is
source of Ms income.
In two branches of their work in which the administration is concerned,
pi*., medical and educational, the
Tbs Arabiin Mission.
American Mission has done sploodia
work in the past year. The Rev. and Mrs. (Doctor) Calverley returned f*03^
the United States and took up the Women’s medical and educational depart*
mcnt8 with great energy, while Dr. 8tanley Mylrea has been in charge of the
fine hospital throughout the year. Dr. Mylrea’s services were requisit*°np
both by the late Jabir and hu brother Nasir, who both died rather suddenly
during the year. Most of the men of influence in Kuwait make use of ***
Mission doctore and it is no exaggeration to sav that the mission has pr°r ^
itself in this respect a godsend to this town. Tne school has turned oat s010

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