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'File 27/1 Koweit Trade Reports' [‎24v] (53/522)

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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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Reverting to the year tinder report, the total
imports and exports during 1912-1913 have
amounted to Rs 65,74,4)70 and Rs. 19,83,900
respectively as against Rs. 52,17,234 and
Rs. 10,77,218 for last year, giving increases of
26 01 and 84 , 16 per cent, respectively. The rise
in the imports has been general, the most noticeable
being in arms and ammunition, coir and coir rope,
specie, sugar, tobacco, and barley, whilst that in
the exports is due to pearls and specie. The follow
ing table gives the percentage of the imports and
exports of each country for the last three years:—
Imports.
Exports.
Country.
1910-
1911.
1911-
1912.
1912-
1913.
1910-
1911.
1911-
1912.
1912-
1913.
India
56'4
60-8
609
620
68-2
754
United King
dom
102
9-2
36
...
66 - 6
70-0
64-4
620
68-2
76-4
Turkish Ara
bia
151
11-4
9-3
6-2
6-2
3-1
America
1-5
2-0
2-4
Persia
6‘6
6'6
7-0
13-G
(3-7
109
F ranee
P3
0-8
2-2
...
...
Germany
4-3
1-8
33
...
Arab Coast .
5-9
6-6
17-6
170
9-6
Austria
3 2
...
Other Coun
tries
47
25
1-7
0-6
1-9
1-0
100-0
lOO'O
100-0
1000
100 0
]00-0
The following are the reasons for increases and
decreases in some of the articles :—
Imports by steamers.
Arms and ammunition — Show an increase of
over a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . This is due to the impor
tation of some arms and ammunition by the Ruler
of Kuwait and others, permits for which were ob
tained by them.
Piece-goods —Show a falling-off of Rs. 4,73,208.
As remarked in last year’s report there was then
an unprecedented increase in this item and the
decrease this year is attributed to the local market
being congested with old stocks.
Rice —Shows a decrease of Rs. 1,35,623. This
is due, as stated above, to the usual supply having
arrived too late for inclusion in this year’s statis
tics.
Specie—Hhe increase of over 10 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees under
this item represents part of the proceeds of pearls
and the heavy import of coin was due to the
divers demanding their shares and large advances
for the coming season.
Sugar, loaf and soft —Show an increase of over
2^ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees which is said to be due to increased im
ports and demand, particularly in Central Arabia.
Wood for building boats. —This was formerly
imported by buggalows but owing to uncertainty
of delivery and urgent local demand, a large
quantity was imported this year by steamers and
the Rs. 1,41,370 appearing in the return repre
sents its value.
Imports by Buggalows,
Barley —Shows an increase of nearly half a
lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. which is said to have been caused
by the rise in price, as the quantity imported was
only slightly in excess of last year.
Chandal —Show an increase of Rs. 52,000.
As the town is gradually expanding and numbers
of new houses being built an increased number
of chandals were imported during the year, while
the price has also greatly advanced.
Dates, Wet —Last year owing to a poor date-
crop in the Shatt-al-Aiab gardens a lesser quan
tity was imported and the increase of Rs. 33,000
this year is due to a rise in price of the usual
quantity required.
Kero sine Oil —Rs. 10,000 represent the cost
of oil exported by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company,
Limited, of Mohammerah, and is a new item of
trade.
Tobacco. —The increase of Rs. 72,000 in this
item is caused by local demand and higher prices.
Wood for building boats. —Shows a falling-
off of Rs. 21,000. This is due to the diversion of
part of this trade to steamers.
Exports by Steamers.
Pearls —Show an increase of Rs. 44,000
which is due to good pearl season, and the fact that
owing to a fall in prices at the end of the season,
the pearls were not shipped thence but brought
back to Kuwait for shipment to Bombay.
Specie. —The increase of over 5 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in this
item is due to cash remittances made in payment
of goods imported.
Exports by Buggalows.
Ghi —Shows a falling-off of Rs. 68,000.
Owing to increased local demand and high prices
no ghi was exported this year.
Tea. —Shows an increase of Rs. 35,000 which
is said to be due to increased smuggling to the
Persian Coast.
Root building and Labour. —Some 120 boats,
big and small, have been built during the year.
Of these about 100 are for pearling and the re
mainder for traffic and bringing fresh water from
the Shatt-al-Arab. The value of these new boats,
which is estimated to be over 4 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , is not in
cluded in this trade return. Labour and living
seem to be getting extremely dear in Kuwait.
Boat carpenters demand Rs. 5 to 7 per day
besides food, measons Rs. 4 to 6 per day,
coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. if engaged on daily wages are reluctant to
work for Rs. 1-8 and even Rs. 2 per day. The
same may be said of all labour and crafts and
there has also been a corresponding rise in the
price of most commodities. It* is due largely to
the reckless extravagance of the gpearling popula
tion.
Openings for Trade. —There seem to lie good
opportunities for British India Traders in Kuwait.
At present the whole trade of the port is in the
hands of Arabs and Persians who are ignorant and

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' [‎24v] (53/522), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/73, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028921456.0x000036> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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