Page 701 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

BK8IDKNCY AND MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOB THE YEAR 1804-1006. 157

Part VIII.—TRADE REPORT POR KOWEIT, 1904-1905.
Tlio total value of trade for the year ia estimated at Rs. 24,05,507.
2. These results have been obtained from the manifests of the British
Indian steamers calling at the port, which account for Rs. 20,63,895 of the total
and are tabulated in tho statements attached to this report
3. The remainder, Rs. 3,41,612, are based on very rough estimates of the
local borne buggalow traffic between this port and India. There is a fleet of about
60 trading buggalows which leave the Sbatt-el-Arab chiefly laden with dates (not
I included in these figures) and return to Koweit with large quantities of timber
for ship building. Returns for this local borne trade were promised by the
authorities, but have not been received.
4. No comparisons are possible with returns of previous years, but all
accounts agree that trade is increasing.
6. According to the figures, the imports exceed the exports by seven lakhs.
To this excess, it mieht be considered necessary, to add the four lakhs of specie
exported by British India steamers, but this figure has been given as equivalent
to the produce of the Bahrein pearl fisheries to the credit of the Koweit pearling
fleet
6. Of these seven lakhs, three lakhs of rupees are required to pay for the
arms and ammunitions imported, and it may be safely assumed that the money
for payment comes not from Koweit at all, but from Persia and Turkey.
7- The only explanation received to account for the remaining four lakhs
is that it comes from the Bedouins who sell the increase of their flocks and
herds, camels and horses in Mesopotamia, Syria, the Hedjaz and even Egypt
and come to Kovveit for their yearly supplies. The explanation is given for
what it is worth. It does not seem entirely satisfactory.
S. G. KNOX, Captain,
I Political Agent, Kotceit.

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