Page 166 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

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Marine Stores. Tbo incroaso of £1,620 in thin Shipping and Navigation. The port is served
item represent* cost of stores brought by tbo Sheikh by tho British India Steam Navigation Companies'
of Kuwait foi hia wator-slcamcr. Steamers weekly from Bombay and fortnightly from
Piece-goods. Show a decrease of £2?,3G4 Basrah. Tho vessels of tho “ Arab Steamers Ltd.”
which ia attributed to poverty of the feo;.lc co DE­ and tho now Persian Gulf Steam Navigation Com­
qaent oq a Ind pearl season and scarcity of rain. pany also call occasionally on thoir outward aud
Rice. In 1212-1913 the yearly supply of rice inward voyages.
wan not received in tirno for inclusion in tho figures Tho harboar is well buoyed and besides tho oxis*
for that year, and the incro&so of £51,646 in tho ting beacon on tho Ras-al-Arz promontory another
current year is duo to this fact. has recently been erected under tho orders of tho
Specie. Shows a falling off of £100,160 which Government of India on Kabbar Island some 30
ia duo to the failure of the pearl season and tho miles South Kant of Kuwait town ns an aid to Navi­
dullncBi of tho pearl market owing to which pearls gation. Ita height is 30 feet above tho wator and
roar aim.d unsold. it is visible from about 11 miles dialanco.
Wheat Flour. ShowB an incrca'c of £2,364. Tho numbor of steam and sailing vessels that
Indian Cour ia now being imported in larger entered and cleared the port daring tho year is
given in tho attached shipping returns.
quantities than formerly. The poorer classes are
Raid to prxfer it to flour made locally by hand-mills
which is moreover more expensive. POPULATION AND INDUSTRIES: PUBUC
HEALTH
IMPORTS BV BUQGALOWS.
The population of Kuwait is estimated at about
Barley. Owing to scarcity of grazing and 50,000 souls but the town is visited for trading
fodder a largo supply of barley was imported for purposes by a large number of Bedonin and people
the use of camels, etc., and tho iucreasj of £9,400 from all parts of Nejd. The only two important
heic is due to this cause. local industries aro pearl fishing aud boat-building
Dates Wet. The reason assigned for a decrease and tho prosperity of the people’ deponds almost
of £4,700 under this head is that a Ic-s-er quantity entirely on tho former. About 42 pearling and
was imported, there boing few purchasers from cargo boats were bailt daring the year at an estimat­
the interior daring tho year nuder review. ed value or £10,000 as against 120 boats of an
Tobacco. Shows a decreaso of £4,333 which approximate value of £-6,700 in 1913-1913. These
is attributed to the enforced abstention of the figures have not been included in the trade statis­
general mass of the people from luxories owing tics.
to poverty resulting from the bad pearl season. Tho public health of tho port has been very
Water. Increase of £2,933 is said to bo due good throughout the year and no disease has occur­
mainly to increase in the nnmbsr of Bedouin which red in opidcmic form with tho exception of small-pox
have ritited the town during the year. which was prevalent in October and November 1913.
Customs Administration- The Sheikh’s Cus­
Elbows for boats. Increase of £4,050 is toms are superintended by an Arab Director, native of
said to be due to an increased quantity imported Kuwait. Tbo management seems to work very satis­
for Basrah. factorily and no complaints have reached the Political
Agent during the y<ar nnder review of any attempts
EXPORTS BY STEAMERS. to recover enhanced duty or any other illegal tax
Pearls. Show a decrease of £20,633 which is from British subjects and othors. The landing
dne to the failure already mentioned. arrangements alto rest with the Customs Depart­
Specie. Shows a falling off of £7,124 which ment and they are as satisfactory as could be desired,
though the scale of charges appears to be rather high
is due to the general set-back in the imports.
as compared with those at other Gulf Ports. The
high cost of living and the dearness of labour
EXPORTS BY BUGQALOWS. accounts for this. The Sheikh is said to havo order*
ed hand power cranes for shipping and landing heavy
Astrakhans. Increase of £4,043 is probab­
ly dne to increased slaughter of lambs for want of packages at tho Customs wharves, but they have not
grazing and fodder. yet arrived. No complaints or difficulties arising from
pilferage between ship and shore have occurred
Ghi. ShowB an increase of £8,460. Larger during tbo year which is satisfactory in view of the
quantities than usual appear to have come in from large amount of trouble experienced at other Gulf
Hail and Nejd. Porta from this cause. The Customs premises have
Rice. Show* a falling off of £2,333. Owing recently been considerably enlarged by reclamation
to tho lat© arrival of the rice for Kuwait already and tho addition of new sheds. They are capable
referred to, a lesser quantity ia said to hare been now of accommodating thousands of packages with­
exported. out exposing thorn to risk of any kina.