Page 65 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

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No. 197, dated Kuwait, the 1st May 1910.
Prom Captain W. IT. I. Suakkspsav, I. A., Political Agent, Kuwait,
To—The Secretary to the Government of Iudia in the Foreign Department, Simla.
I have the honour to submit, herowith, the Trado Report for Kuwait for
the year 1900-1910 togothcr with the returus showing the statistics of trade for
the samo period.

Trade Report for Kuwait for the year 1900-1910.
1. The year April 1900 to March 1910 has been a bad ono commercially,
the total volume of trade showing a depreciation of Its. 11,So,081 on the pre­
vious year. The total value of the trade for tho year amounts to Us. 62,13,624
as against Rs. ft0,99,305 for 1903-1909 or a fall oE 222 per cent and
Its. 75,57,407 for 1907-1908, ora fall of 31 per cent Of this, Rs. 11,10,359
is to ho found in imports and Rs. 3,41,522 in exports.
2. The main cau-e for this great falling off is the ahsenco of rain for 2
consecutive years with the result that money has been scarce whilst prices of
necessaries have risen and trade has therefore suffered severely. The failure of
the pearl market towards tho latter part of the year was aho a contributory
cause in the general depression. The figures given above do not show tho full
extent to which trade has suffered, for as a result of the failure of rain severe
famine prevailed in tho deserts, causing great mortality among tho Bedouin
flock and being unable to maintain them the Bedouins were compelled to
dispose of their livestock at exceedingly low prices in order to obtain food for
themselves. Fortunately, however, towards the close of the year good rain fell
and circumstances have taken a turn for the better and plenty of grazing is
now available. Owing to similar proverty Nejd has not taken her usual quota.
3. The total imports for the year amount to Rs. 38,02,231 as against
11s. 49,43,120 of tho previous year, a fall of over 23 per cent, of which
Rs. 3,12,670 ha3 been lost by the steamer traffic and Rs, S,23,1S9 by tho bug-
galow traffic.
4. The decrease of over 11 lakhs of rupees appearing ou the side of imports
is chiefly to be found in the following items:—
Bs.
Arma and ammuoiticn ••• ••• 7 lakhs.
Goat hair ••• \
Date* ... ... 1
Piece good* 2
Specie remittances ... 1

Total R*. 11 lakhs.
The decrease in arms and ammunition is principally due to the striot
vigilance exercised by tho British gun boats and the B. I. steamer authorities.
There was besides less activity in the local firearms market which discouraged
large imports for somo time. The decrease in piece yoodt is due to general
poverty, as .already explained. Owing to tho prevalence of famine and shortage
of ready cash the Bedouins, Nejd, Al Rasa took very little, large stocks being
left on tbe local merchants' hands owiog to the dull market Owing to raids
and general insecurity in that direction, very little trade was done with QaiL
Goat hair is chiefly used by Bedouins, who, being reduced to extreme
proverty owing to failure of rain, were not able to j rovido themselves with new
tents. Consequently there was no demand for goat hair and tberofore very
little was imported.
Rates.—Most of the produco was shipped (o India direct from Basra
on the Shatt-cl-Arab, where, it is said, good prices were ruling. Only