Page 724 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920

C8 ANNUAL RK70RT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY.

Population.—The eel tied population of the Sultanate is estimated at
about 85,000 of whom about 60,000, are resident in Kuwait town. Of th
la!ter, about 35,000 are Kuwaitis, 15,000 Persians and Bahrainis aud 10( 00
Nojidis, Bedouins and native of Iraq.
Tribes.—Two tribes, the Awizim and tbo Pashaidab, together with a
portion of (be Muteir. form the bulk of the population outside that of Kuwait
town. Small bands of other tribes such as Dhafir, Beni Khalid etc. (who arc
merely visitors) enter Kuwait territory at certain seasons.
Villages.—The principal villages in the district with their approximate
populations are Jalmro, 500 : Fantas, 400 : Abu Jkilaifah, £00; Fohaihil
200: Shi’aibah, 60.
Tusfal Datoah'i.*-Yusuf ill Dawairi (mentioned in last year’s report),
with the concurrence of His Excellency tbo Shaikh, was given permission in
July to return to Kuwait but lie1 has hot yet done so. He is still at Bombay,
where it is said he has elected to remain for the present.
Blockade.—The shipping restrictions as regards exports from India to
Kuwait refeired to in the report for 1918 were removed at the beginning of the-
yerr ahd.steameis resumed bringing cargo to Kuwait in February.
Arms Traffic.—Reports are still being received from different sources about
the smuggling of arms and ammunition from Kuwait into Tangistan and other
smaller ports on the Persian Coast.
In October it was reported from Bahrain that a Kuwait boom, Nakhuda
•Ahmed, al Gbndairi, arrived there on 21st September with a Kmvaiti,.
Abadullah’ Ali al.Sharidah, having 40 rifles and 1,200 cartridges hidden in
his bedding and attempting to smuggle them at night but detected by the
Customs special watchman. The arms were seized and confiscated by the
’Shaikh of Bahrain, ar.d the man and the Nakhuda were let off without further
enquiry or punishment.
Enquiries made here went to show that neither ’Abdullah bin *Ali al
Sharidah went from Kuwait by Nakhuda Ahmed al Ghadari’s boom nor was
he a Kuwait subject. It appears that on the night they were seized the arms,
were brought on board the Kuwait boom at Bahrain from shore in a jolly boat
for shipment to some unknown destination. The case is still under enquiry.
Pearl fuhery.—Tbc pearl season was a veiy successful on«\ Although the
whole Kuwait pearling fleet did not participated in the fishery for want of
crews, 1hc take was above the average aud prices ruled very high—much higher
than those of the last 5 or 6 years.
Pevenue.—The Shaikh’s principal sources of revenues arc : —
1. Customs..
2. Peorl-fUheiy.
3 Private property, (principally date gardens at Fao).
The C.usloms bring him about Its. 7,6.0,000 per annum, while his date-
gardens at Pao yield him rbout Its 7.00.000. He gets a dnver’s share in each
Kuwait peailing boat.
Irrigation —The land around Kuwait is rich and admirably suited to;
iriigflrion hut is dependent on wells, of which there are not many, as a source of
supply. Irrigation is tkerefene confined to a few* centres when; water is found:
Agriculture.—The area u1 der cultivation is nnalJ due to the scarcity of
w.ater. The principal cultivation centres arc Jalua, ITawallii and a few
villages r-lorg the Q.asur coast. ‘Wheat and. barley arc sow'n in the open desert
in the rainy season and under favourable conditions as much as 60 tons is got
in this way. Small- quantities of vegetables are brought into Kuwait town
from the surrounding villages hut tho town is principally dependeut on- the*
S att-al-Aralr gardens for it$ green stuffs.
Judicial.—Justice is administered by the Shaikh, in- the most arbitrary
w'ay,<and his 'word is law.
The Political Agent is not vested with judicial powers, and cases of British'
nibjeeU are therefore settled by him informally, and those between British-
subjects and Arabs are referred to tho Shaikh for equitable settlement.