Page 68 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

4

Dale wood.—Shows a fulling off of Rs. 31,025. Owing to poverty peoplo
have taken to “ Arafij ” and " hamth ” brush wood from tho desert, which is
sold considerably cheaper than dato wood.
Piece goods.— ("kaz’*) Tins particular kind of cloth comes from Persia
and this year’s import lias been very small amounting to only Us. 30,000. Tho
roason nssigued to its decrease is tho disturbed state of Persia preventing large
oxports.
Rice.—Shows a dccrcaao of Rs. 1,75,250 hut tho corresponding increase* of
rice imported from India by steamers explains tho diminution in tho buggalow
trafli o.
JT'otcr.—There is an incroasc of Rs. G9,000 under this head. Kuwait
town is now’almost entirely dependent on water brought from tho Shatt-cl-
Avab by country boats. Thcro is a regular service of at least 12 big boats and
perhaps 15 small ones daily going and coming. Each boat brings fro in 2,000
to 1,000 gallons which is retailed at an average of 2 annas for 2 kcrosino oil
tins or 8 gallons. All the local supply from wells has become brackish and
unpotablc owing to failure of rain for over two years.
Exports by Steamers.
9. Arms and ammunition.—Shows nothing this year. "What was shown as
exported last year was the value of firearms the local Chief sent to Shaikh
Khazal of Muhamcncrah when ho was engaged in reprisals on the JIawaiza
tribesmen.
Animals.—There is a slight increase of R3. 9.SS0 under this head. Owing
to good rains at the close of the year sheep in good condition were brought into
Kuwait, and Bahrain generally takes its supply of slaughter sheep from Kuwait
market "What appears in the present returns represents what has been
shipped by tho B. I. ships. The B. I. Coy. raised their rates of freight and
shippers therefore resorted to sailing boats.
Ghi.—There is an appreciable increase of Rs. 19,000. Good rains, as
already explained elsewhere, improved the condition of the live-stock of tho
Bedouius and they were able to bring in for sale towards the end of the year a
certain amount of ghi. "What appears in this year’s returns represents the
amount bought for the Bahrain market.
Pearls.—The export of pearls from Kuwait shows a drop of Rs. 1,11,500.
Thc^bulk of the pearls aro disposed of at Bahrain before the pearl boats return
to Kuwait and hence a smaller export appears from the Kuwait figures. I am
told that quite half the season’s catch is so disposed of, and besides, the sum
appearing in these returns gives the value of the pearls shipped hence at much
below their real value.
Specie.—There is a decrease of Rs. 3,82,377 under this head in the total
remittances.
Remittances to India show an increase of Rs. 2,67,358. The reason for
thi3 is that merchants had no deposits in cash in Bombay to enable them to
issue drafts or “hawalas”; hence they were obliged to make cash remittances.
Remittances to Maskat show an increase of Rs. 1,27,24»0 and probably repre­
sent almost entirely payment for firearms. Remittances to Turkish Arabia
show a very large drop of Rs. 8,07,950. The amount shown in the previous
year as exported was the single shipment of specie made by the Ruler of Kuwait
to pay for date gardens he had purchased on the Shatt-el-Arab. It is doubtful
whether such shipments will recur often.
10. Exports by Euggaloio,—It is interesting to note that exports carried
by tno sailing craft have increased no withstanding tho drop in imports. A
glance at the present year’s figures under this shows increased exports almost
iq all items, amounting to a total of Rs. 1,24,148.
The increase of Rs. 95,150 under “Anns and ammunition ” is already
explained elscwhcro. And the increase under ** wood for building boats" of
Rs. 69,000 has alsq been explained previously,