Page 42 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

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"Split bamboos” show a large falling off of 67 per cent or Rs. 4,000.
Tlio reason for this is poverty of people auil slackness in tlio building Irado as
in nearly all others. They arc used for roofing.
" Barley ” also shows a largo drop of Rs. SI,GOO and is due to the bad
harvest in Persia.
The import of " bricks” from Basrah has cntlroly disappeared from this
year’s returns as no building of importance were constructed during the year.
" Chandals.” Though the quantify imported is larger than tho previous
year, it is said that they were small, weak and of iuferior quality and sold at
low rales. The import shows a falling off of Rs. 3,000.
" Charcoal.” It will ho noticed that tho import of thisarticlohy steamers
Bhow an appreciable increase of Its. 2,750, but the buggalow returns show a
large decreaso of Rs. 30,000. It is explained that this drop is duo to the
poverty of the purchasing power and tho large shipments of charcoal which
usually came from Karachi by sailing boats did not come during tho year.
The prices havo also ruled very low during tho year whereas last year (1907-
OS) the price was very high and importers made a largo profit.
"CofTco”also shows a considerable falling off of Rs. 11,063. It is
explained that the coffee crop has been very poor in Malabar and the beans aro
sold at high prices. A gandi of 4 hags was sold last year for Rs. 150, but now
it is sold for Rs. 200 and over. To avoid risk and delay coffee is now a days
brought up by the British India vessels which are driving tho buggalows out of
the trade in the same way as Brazilian coffee is driving out Indian. Imports
by steamers show a very decent increase of Rs. SG,940.
" Coir yarns ” also show a very big decrease of over 50 per cent. The
decrease is attributed to poverty to a large extent and partly to large balances
from last year’s imports.
" Condiments ” show a large increase of Rs. 1S,GG0 over the figures of 1907-
OS. The chief reason for this is faulty returns. Last year many articles were
omitted.
" Fresh dates”show a falling off of Rs. 20,000 or 63 per cent. The date
crop was short and poor and Sheikh Mobarak prohibited tie export of these
fresh dates from liis Fao properties.
" Bate juice ” also shows a decrease of Rs. 10,000 and the reason given for
it is that sugar is being largely substituted by all classes for date juice. Imports
for 1907-0S were priced far too low.
“ Wet dates ” show an increase of Rs. 1,11,000. Cheap food of this and
all kinds has naturally been much in demand owing to poverty of people.
“ Date wood ” shows a big drop of Rs. 1,28,975 due to poverty. People
•who use the wood now use the " Arafij ” or " Hamth ” brush wood which is
brought from the desert and sold cheap.
“ Dhall ” shows a large decrease in quantity, hut only Rs. 440 in value.
Imports for 1907-08 were priced far too low.
"Fish oil” shows an increase of R9. 20,500. Last year’s (1907-0S)
import was, it is now said, greatly underestimated.
" Fresh and dried fruits ” also show a large drop of Rs. 99,175, and this
must he attributed to the general poverty of the people.
" Glii.” The import of the year amounts to Rs. 31,600 as against nil
for 1907-08 and Rs. 13,000 for 1906*07. Ghi was imported from Turkish
Arabia and Persian coast because none was available in the Hinterland, the
usual source of supply for Koweit and prices ruled high in Kowoit during the
year. About half of tbo import was re-exported.
" Kcrosinc oil ” shows an increase of Rs. 3G,570. The market is over­
stocked with different brands, hut only the American (Monkey brand) is sclliqg