Page 285 - 4 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 2_Neat

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the perforations of the largest called ras arc *18' Abdu] Aziz aJ Baud, RuJcr of Ncjd and Hcjaz, con­
in diameter, those of the second batn *15', those of tinued to observe his strict bkekade against trade
the third dliail *13' and those of the fourth rnbi'ah from Kuwait with the hinterland. Of the total
•11'. After being assorted into raa, batn, etc., import trade 57*7 per cent* was with India, 22*2
they change hands at a previously arranged rate at per cent, with ’Iraq, T*1 per cent, with Persian
fo much the mitbqal ’Arabi which is equivalent to Coast, 2*8 per cent, with A rata an Coast and 10*2
50 grains. The ordinary pearls then usually pass per cent, with other countries.
frorj one dealer to another on the more precise
k\J of estimate based upon weight. In Kuwait Exports.
the Bombay mithqal equivalent to 75 grains Troy
The total exports by sea amounted to R«. 11,11,881
and rub-divided into 24 rattea each of 15 annhs is and showed a decrease -of 30-3 per cent, compared
usually employed. The unit in the dealers’ system with the figures for i'331-32. This is accoantcd
is called a chau and although derived from a weight for by the known decreased export in hides, ghi,
it is not in itself a weight. The number of ehaua
in a pearl is found by squaring the weight of the sheep* skins, wool, specie and horses, due to the fact
that Ncjd tribes were forbidden to have intercourse
pearl in mithqals and multiplying the result by 330. with Kuwait. Pearls cd the aggregate amount of
The chau is divisible into 100 dukras and the dukra Rs. 4,50,000 are shown En the tables a* having been
into 100 bndarns. There arc other kinds of chaus
also occasionally used, and obtained by an identical exported for 6ale to Indian markets, but accurate
figure of these ae well as of specie can, as mention­
process from other mithqals such as the Poona ed eUewhcre, never be obtained, as both are nearly
inithqal of 03 grains. The normal unit of length is
the dhira or cubit of 19 inches but for rope which always carried away amongst personal luggage.
is also sold by the weight, the ba or fathom is Of the total export trade 55-3 per cent, was with
usually employed. There is no square measure in India, 18-7 percent. wiih Arab Coast, 22-1 percent,
with ’Iraq and 3-9 per cent, with the Persian Coast.
use, and a plot of ground is described as being so
many dhiras according to the sum of its sides.
Peajrl Fishing.
The Year 1932-33. TLis is the most important trade of Kuwait.
The year nndcr review was again not a favourable The town possesses over 700 pearl boats but many
one for trade, although it showed an improvement of these have not been, to sea for some time cine to
on the immediately preceding 12 months. This the depressed state of tie pcarO trade. The average
must be put down to world depression, and the fact number of boats which of recent years visited the
that there was practically no trade with Nejd. The banks is not more than 350 and this figure has de­
Pearl “ Catch ” on the whole was again not good creased as the market was no better than last year.
aud the pearl market remained so low that good The Kuwait pearling fleet consists of two parts,
pearls could 1** purchased for 50 j-er cent, less than the very small boats which £sh close in shore off
previous years. It was however expected that with the Neutral Zone, Sudah and Iluzaim areas to the
the advent of some cf the well-known European South of Kuwait, and the larger boats with 8 to
pearl merchants that the local market would improve 10 sweeps ” on either side-, which go further
aud prices of pearls would rise, but unfortunately afield and join up with the Bahrain and Qatar fleets.
no tangible increase took place and the financial The latter which may be called the Kuwait main
condition of the pearl merchants remained so acute pearling fleet works under the eye of an Amir al
that although they had safes full of pearls most of Batar, or Admiral and no boait is allowed to return
the merchants were not only unable to pay their home without his sanction. The “ Rukbah ” is
large debts but were not in a position to pay even the name given to the commencement of the Pearl
the small wages due to the pearling crew. Accord­ Season and the “ Gufiml ” to the end when all boats
ing to the Customs export figures some Rs. 4,50,000 return home. The season falls somewhere between
worth of pearls were estimated to have been export­ 15th May &Bd 15th September.
ed for sale in India and elsewhere. But this figure
an explained under “ Exports ” cannot be relied on Customs Administration and Lighterage.
in any way.
The administration of the Kuwait Customs is
supervised by a local Arab and the system works
Imports.
satisfactorily. An import duty on goods arriving
The total imports by sea amounted to by sea, of 4J per cent* ad valorem is charged and a
R*. 31,14,689, which showed an increase of 2-1 land export duty of 2 per cent, on goods taken out
per cent, as compared with the figures for 1931-32. by Bedouin. There cs no sea export duty except
This small, though very gratifying increase may be on goods brought in from the interior such as clari­
put down to recovery in world trade, and in spite fied butter, hides, wool, ©to., on1 which 4 per cent,
of the foot that during the year Hiw Majesty King is charged if exported.