Page 26 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

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(m) Kaz.

A new entry oC piece-goods lias been added to the list. The cloth is
«aid to he very costly and is known locally as “ KazP It is manufactured in
Shuster in Persia and is preferred by the Aral) and Persian women. It arrives
here white* but people buy and dye it dilfercnt shades.
The remaining items are most of them new. Some wore included in tlio
last year’s returns under articles not speeifiod. These arc mostly consumed
locally.
Exports.
The total value of exports is estimated at Its. 21,01,747 ns against Its.
1G,21, 97G of the previous year (i90G-1907) showing an increase of Rs. 5,39,771
in spite of decrease in value of all articles owing to the Tall in the value of the
dollarj. The present returns of export by the British India vesso s and tho^o
by the country sailing boats show increase of export1*. Of the Its. 5,39,771
increase shown above Its. 2,12,319 represents increase cxpoit* carried by tho
British India vessels and Rs. 3,27,422 by the local buggalow traffic.
Notwithstanding the general poverty of the Koweit merchants owing to the
great fall in the prices of pearls, the trade in exports has been comparatively
prosperous. The variations in some of the items of trade by the British India
vessels maybe explained as under:—
(a) Animals.—IVhile there is a decrease of about Rs. 7,000 in the horse
trade with India, the export of slaughter sheep to Bahrein shows
an increase of Rs. 3,115 over the last year’s export, which is due to
the excellent rains during the previous year, Most of the
animals were shipped in the beginning of the year under report.
(b) Hides and skins.—The export in bides shows a small falling off and
is said to be due to small demand from India.
(c) Pearls.—There is a marked decrease of over a lac of rupees in the
export of pearls, and the reason for this is not far to seek. At
the close of the pearling season the pearl market, both in India
and at home, was depressed. The ton ash is, therefore, disposed of
tnclr catch of pearls in Bahrein, bringing over to Koweit a small
portion. The fall in the pearl market lias practically ruined the
prospects of the Koweit merchants, many of whom have most of
their money locked up in pearls which they are unable to get rid
of, l>esidcs heavy sums outstanding on account of advances made
to the divers during the previous year.
The new rules, which the Sheikh of Koweit has issued
during the year, prohibiting tlietowashis from making unlimited
advances to the divers, have been very unpopular among the
pearl divers who are very unwilling to go to the pearl fisheries of
the ensuing year. But from another point of view tho new rules
seem to be benchcial to the pearl fishers as formerly they obtain**
ed unlimited advances which practically made them slaves of
their nakhodas.
(d) Specie.—It is interesting to note the marked increase of over 3 lacs of
rupees in the specie remittances to India. The greater part of
this amount was sent away in the months of December and
January. The reasons givea for this marked increase are that the
Koweit merchants, owing to the fall in the pearl market, coaid
not trust the pearl merchants’ hawalas and were, therefore,
obliged to make cash remittances.
The decrease in (bo specie remittance to Maskat is moat
probably due to tho limited import of fire-arms, for which article
the specie remittances to Maskat are principally made.
(e) Wheat.—A consignment of 550 tons wheat was taken away to
England by one of the ships of Messrs. V. T. Thompson and Co.,
Sunderland, in October. The ship was chartered by tho firm