Page 228 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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5. The actual merchants who are still suffering most from the depression
are those who live years ago and previously sunk capital in the purchase of
pearls when the market was good and pearls fetched high prices. They have
been unable to scdl these since, not even at a reasonable loss, so are still saddled
with heavy stocks. Chief among these is Iiaji Shamlan, once one of the most
wealthy and rich of the local “ Towashcs ” (pearl buyers from the fishing fleet).
fi. The pearling fleet put to sea at the end of May, the occasion is known as
the Itakba. The Gaffal ”, or homecoming of the divers was fixed for the
27th of September, when as usual His Excellency the Shaikh proceeded to the
Banks and gave the signal for their return. An interesting feature of the 1933
season was the surprisingly even distribution of the pearls found by the various
boats, unlike 3932 when only a few prominent boats got all the luck.
• 7. The best pearl of the season was sold by Ibn Musa ’ad al Badr for
Rs. 20,000. This in normal years would have fetched at least Its. 40,000.
8. As usual * scurvy * made its appearance among the divers, and caused
considerable suffering and some loss of life but, it will be long before one will
be able to convince the captains and crews of pearling dhows of the advantage
of taking necessary precautions. Nor docs the Ruler appear to recognise the
wastage of man power which results from the dread disease. This probably
is due to the small value which the Arab places on human life.
(/) New Agency Building.—1. Work was started on the building in August
1932, by the Indian Public Works Department. The Assistant Engineer to the
Honourable the Political Resident at Busliire was in general charge, while
Mr. Abdul Wahab of the same Department supervised the work on the spot.
2. December 1933 saw the second story nearly completed and it is estimated
that the August 1934 will see the house finished and ready to be taken over by
the Political Agent.
3. Up to date some Rs. 40,000 has gomrinto Kuwait Town by way of work­
men’s wages, which was what the Political Agent hoped would happen, and this
has greatly assisted in keeping* down unemployment and distress.
4. Very good work indeed has been put into the masonry portion of the
building by Mr. Abdul Wahab and his staff, who are to be congratulated
accordingly.
(g) Poverty in the Town and among the Nomad population.—1. This has
once again been a feature of the Town’s life during 1933, and may be attributed
to the continued “ Blockade ” by Ibn Baud, the depressed pearl trade, and
general world conditions.
2. His Excellency the Shaikh continued to give the “ down and out ”, one
square meal a day outside his Town Palace. These numbering some SO souls
daily were fed from a sort of soup kitchen, which was erected close by.
3. Fortunately the better class Arab of Kuwait is a deeply religious man,
and especially on Fridays is liberal in the charity which he disburses.
4. The. writer computes that some 10,000 souls in the Town of Kuwait have
always to live on the equivalent of 1 rupee a day each, while at least half of the
Bedouin population are lucky if they can get a small bowl of camel’s milk as
their daily ration.
0. In 6pitc of the above rather harrowing details, the people as a whole
are happy, well covered, and content with their lot, and the cost of living is
remarkably low. For instance Id. will purchase 4 flat loaves of bread, each a
foot across and i" thick, while Japan supplies the wherewithal to clothe a man
at prices which leave one aghast.
(h) Locusts.—During the year under review, Kuwait and North-East
Arabia was spared all visitations of this pest. This bore out exactly the propi }
made by Mr. Uvarov, Locust Expert and Adviser to .the British Museum, \
visited Kuwait on 23rd May 1932 and said that the Principality would be tree
from visitations during 1932, 1933 and probably 1934. ^
(i) R. A. F. survey of Kuwait and the Kuwait Neutral Zone.---1. ^ ^,i!n'or
Air Force survey of the Principality which was commenced in the Autumn