Page 25 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

3 *

(c) Basrah rice.
Tho decrease is attributed to a bad market. During the year under report
comparatively few Nejdi caravans visited Koweit, and thoy usually take away
a largo quantity of this rice. A goodly parcel of this rice came this year by tho
lighter “ John G'Seott*’. This is shown under imports by tho steam vessols.
This fact also partially goes to account for tho decrease in local sail borne
trade.
(d) Wet dales.
Thero is a noticeable decrcaso in this item. Tho reason given for this is
that owing to good oirerings in Basrah most of tho produce waa disposed of there^
bringing over to Koweit only a quantity sufficient for local consumption,
(c) Ghi.
"No foreign ghi was imported as tho previous year had been exceptionally
good one. There was a large amount of ghi iu stock sufficient to last the
town for one year and even to export a part of it, Moreover, tho price of ghi
in Basrah ruled very high during the year.
(f) Chanlah.
Tho reasons given for the decrease iu wood for boat building apply to this
case also.
fe) Coffee.

Buggalows that bring this have visited the Malabar coast late this year and
are therefore returning late to Koweit. Only a few bavo so far returned,
(b) Kerosin e oil.
There is a respectable increase in this. The firm of Messrs. Gray, Paul and
Co., Agents for the Standard Oil Company, were interested in this trade during
the year. In October an unfortunate accident befell their boat which was
bringing a parcel of 600 cases near Pailaka island, resulting in tho loss of the
greater part of the consignment. Since then the firm lias imported little.
Among the 4,556 cases imported, there were 500 cases of the German
make, a new brand for the Koweit market.
(i) Tobacco.

The reason assigned for less import is that the merchants had large quantity
in hand from the previous year, and partly due to the fact that there was no
snle owing to poverty of the smoking classes. This is one of the results of the
downfall in the pearl market,
(j) Coir yarns,

The decrease in this is said to be due to there being a large balance of the
previous year’s imports. Even of the small amount imported large quantities
are said to have been brought up and sent on for sale to Basrah and will appear
in next year’s returns as exported.
(k) Arms and ammunition.

The reasons for the decrease in this trade have already been considered
under the imports in British India steamers.
(i) Fresh dates.
There is a slight falling off in this item. It is said that the owners of tho
date gardens, when they give the charge of their gardens to tho caretakers,
make a contract with them to produce a certain amount of dates at the close of
the season. The caretakors, thereforo, are careful not to run short of the
amount contracted for and dare not sell