Page 236 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

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TOWNS 295

Towns

1. Koweit, capital of the Sultanate, is situated on the S. coast
of the bay of the same name, about 80 miles S. by E. of Basra
and 2S0 miles NNW. of Bahrein. It extends for about 2 miles
along tho shoro, with a depth varying between mile and J mile.
On the land side, the desert tract of Qra’ah (sec p. 291) comes right
up to the houses, and there arc no date-groves nor cultivated lands.
The site is in general flat and sandy, but rises towards the SW.;
just beyond the town on the S. and E. the soil is clay, and here
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material is dug for the mud walls of the ordinary houses. Koweit
has no regular plan ; most of the streets arc winding, and cross
each other at irregular intervals. The principal thoroughfare runs
from the sea to the bazaar and market-place at the back of the
town. It begins with two branches, one starting near the custom­
house, to the W. of the Sheikh’s palace about the middle of the
sea-front, the other some little distance to the E. of it, this latter
branch containing the offices of the British India Steam Navigation
Co. and the American iMission. The branches unite almost S. of
the palace, and proceed directly to the market, passing the largest
mosque in the town on the right hand. The bazaar forms a
labyrinth of narrow streets about the N. end of the market-place,
which has been compared to a bay running into the town straight
out of the desert ; it is in fact continuous with the waste country,
and the caravans, which are loaded at the S. end, are on the desert
from the very start. The bazaar is without architectural interest,
and is not covered by the vaulted roofs which lend attraction to
those in some other places; its chief protection from the sun is sup­
plied by awnings of mat and palm-branch. The merchants of textile
fabrics trade in the main thoroughfare, at the end of which are
the chief tobacconist’s shop and the Bible warehouse of the American
Mission. Household utensils are sold at the head of the market­
place ; on the E. side are shops for travellers’ requisites, such as
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saddles, arms, sandals, and coffee-pots. At the top of the market­
place are the pavilion-like structures, with a single many-windowecl
upper floor approached by an outside staircase, in which the Sheikh
sits during his daily audiences (see p. 2S9). There are coffee-houses
in both bazaar and market, where coffee and tea are served.
The residence of the British Political Agent is on the front, to the
E. of the Sheikh’s palace. The latter is a rambling complex of
different styles and dates, in the architecture of which can be
traced tho influence of Persia and Mesopotamia, It has three main
divisions, the Sheikh’s private residence and harem, a fort-like

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