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'File 27/1 Koweit Trade Reports' [‎101r] (206/522)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (257 folios). It was created in 3 Aug 1912-27 Dec 1918. It was written in English and Arabic. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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REPORT
ON THK
TRADE OF KUWAIT
for the year 1913-1914.
(1st April to 31st March.)
INTRODUCTION.
The year under review was an unfavourable one
from the trade point of view. There was scarcity
of rain in the early part of the year (when it is
generally expected) both on the coast and in the
hinterland, which made grazing scarce and fodder
unobtainable except at prohibitive prices. This
reduced the condition of the cattle and other live
stock and resulted in very little desert produce being
available for sale in Kuwait town. Then the pearl
season, the chief local industry, was also a bad one,
both as regards production and prices obtainable.
Some of the pearl merchants who had previously
made large purchases were badly affected by a slump
in the European market and persons of lesser impor
tance engaged in this means of livelihood were re
duced in many cases to selling their household pro
perty in order to make existence possible. These
successive misfortunes had naturally an injurious
effect on the trade of the port.
Total Trade. The total trade of the port
during the year has amounted to £485,238 as
against £570,558 in 1912-1913, a decrease of £85,320
or 14 95 per cent. The reasons given in the intro
ductory remarks above are mainly responsible for
this large reduction.
The ensuing year promises better, for a copious
supply of rain is reported to have fallen throughout
the desert which will improve the condition of the
cattle and other live-stock and will help to give stim
ulus to trade. Unfortunately great things are not
expected of the ensuing pearling season, though there
is no sign of decrease in the number of boats preparing
for departure to the banks.
Imports and Exports. The imports and ex
ports during the year amounted to £370,817 and
£114,421 respectively as compared with £438,298
and £132,260 in 1912-1913, giving decreases of 15 39
and 14'24 per cent respectively. The following
175 F. & P. D.
table gives the percentage of trade with the various
countries for the last three years —
Country.
Imports.
Exports.
1911-
12.
1912-
13.
1913-
14.
1911-
12.
1912-
13.
1913-
14.
India
608
609
58'3
68-2
754
65-6
United Kingdom.
92
3-5
4-6
...
...
...
70-0
64-4
629
68-2
75-4
65-6
Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. .
11-4
9-3
9-2
6-2
3-1
51
America .
20
24
2-7
...
...
...
Persia
56
7-0
12-5
6-7
10-9
9-7
France
0-8
22
40
• ••
• ••
...
Germany .
1-8
3-3
22
• ••
...
...
Arab Coast .
5-9
6 5
0-7
170
9-6
14-7
Austria .
...
3-2
4-1
• ••
...
...
Other Countries .
2-5
1-7
1-7
1-9
10
4-9
Total .
1000
1000
100-0
_
100-0
100-0
1000
The decrease both in imports and exports has
been a general one. Reasons for abnormal increases
and decreases in some of the commodities are as
follows
IMPORTS BY STEAMERS.
Arms & Ammunition. Show an increase of
£75,009 which is due to increased quantities of
ammunition imported by the Ruler of Kuwait,
permits for which were obtained by him.

About this item

Content

This volume primarily concerns the preparation and submission of annual trade reports. Most of the volume consists of copies of trade reports for Kuwait (for each financial year from 1912-1913 up to and including 1916-1917), which are submitted by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kuwait (Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear; Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey; Major Robert Edward Archibald Hamilton). Imports include arms and ammunition, rice, specie [coins], and sugar; exports include pearls, specie and tea. Each report records the total value (initially in rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. but later in sterling) of the trade for the year and discusses in detail the increase and decrease in trade of specific goods. Further items of discussion in later reports include public health, shipping and navigation, and transport.

Each report also includes in its tables of statistics the corresponding data (i.e. quantities and values of goods) for the two preceding financial years, as well as the countries from/to which the principal articles were imported/exported. The rear of the volume contains some trade statistics for the financial year of 1917-1918.

In addition to trade reports, the volume includes correspondence between the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and the British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire regarding occurrences of 'double entry' in the shipping returns of Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports. The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. is instructed to include in his returns only those vessels that either bring cargo to Kuwait from outside the Gulf or depart with cargo taken from Kuwait which is destined for somewhere outside the Gulf.

Also included are the following:

The Arabic material in this volume consists of three items of correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (257 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 259; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 3-258; these numbers are also written in pencil, are sometimes crossed out, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 27/1 Koweit Trade Reports' [‎101r] (206/522), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/73, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028921457.0x000007> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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