Page 40 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

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The next Horn of importance is “ Arms and ammunition ” and there is a
large dccreaso of Its. 1,73,875 or 78 per cent. The explanation given is that
the Arms' market is very slack and that there arc no orders requiring prompt
fulfilment, so that shipments by tho British India steamers have practically
ceased nowadays, 'lhe buggalow arms tratfic, as will be seen later, would seem
as prosperous as ever.
The import of “iron bars” has doubled. They aro brought for building
purposes and Koweit is ; .king moro kindly to windows and barred doors than it
used to in the past.
There is also a large increase of barley from India due to the failuro of
crops in Persia and Turkish Arabia. Tho same remarks ailect wheat flour,
gunny bags, rice, potatoes and onions.
“ Motor cars and carriages.” The figures of last year under “ motor cars
and carriages ” were exceptional and the large drop is not at all surprising.
The order for cast ‘‘iron pipes” is an exceptional one. They aro used for
the Sheikh’s date gardens at Fao.
There is a largo increase of Its. 2,750 under the head of “ charcoal99 in
consequence of the cheap rates prevailing at present in India. It would appear
that the steamers have taken away some of the buggalow trade in this itom.
“ Cliiuaware ” shows a total figure of Rs. 4,750 against nothing for 1007-
03. These eases were brought as an experiment which docs not seem to have
proved very successful.
“ 00(100” reaches tlio respectable figure of Rs. 1,34,310 as against Rs. 47,
400 of last year. These importations were practically all of last season. It
was noticed in the report for 1907-0S that the year’s stores for 1908-09 bad not
reached the port wheu the year closed. Supplies for 1909*1910 are aho behind­
hand, but expected shortly. The returns, however, show that there has been a
fall in consumption in consequence of tho poverty of the people here and in the
Hinterland.
“ Enamelware ” shows an increase of 30 per cent roughly. It has become
very popular with the Koweit people.
“ Furniture ” shows a large drop of Rs. 2,395 not far from 50 per cent, but
both the Agency and Sheikh Mobarak's new palace were furnished in the year
1907-08, and it is surprising that the drop is not more noticeable. The wealthier
Arab merchants arc, however, acquiring extravagant tastes and begin to refuse
to sit and eat on tho ground like their forefathers.
“ Goat hair ” shows a drop this year of Rs. 77,810 or about 4fi per cent.
It is explained that the market was overstocked last year, and that the Bedouins
arc poor and cannot afford to purchase new tents.
The large difference on the wrong side in “ haberdashery ” must he put
down to failure of last year’s experiments and poverty of purchasing classes.
“ Hardware ” also shows a decrease of over 50 per cent due to overstocked
market and poverty of people.
There is a curious and very largo increase in “ looking glassware.” This is
due to large orders by the Sheikh on the occasion of his son’s marriage and tho
festivities connected thereto. A large consignment arrived smashed and had to
be replaced, but apart from these unusual causes, not likely to repeat themselves,
cheap looking glassware is steadily becoming more and more popular.
Tho import of “ Matches ” has trebled, hut only in consequence of the
cessation of import of cases from Basrah by buggalow. They now come diroct
from India.
An apparent increase is in “old newspapers,” but they were not identified
in the returns for 1907-08.

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