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'File 4/1 General Information regarding Kuwait and Hinterland' [‎179r] (357/474)

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The record is made up of 1 file (235 folios). It was created in 1933-1948. 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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'.That ^oeg On (Kuweit)
Page 2
officials, even if they wished, would find it impossible
to check every dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. . I found the Iraqi port director
at Vao the other day very much concerned about this, and
inclined to berate the Kuweiti. 'That do they do? he said:
They own all these shambas here - waving about with a fat
hand (and indeed most of the plan&aitions about there are
owned in Kuweit) - and they live in an unnecessary place
without hospitals or schools or even water (and if we wished,
he went on, ' e could stop their water for them any day), solely
for the -purpose of avoiding their proper responsibilities as
landholders here, and for carrying on activities against us.
What activities? I asked: but he did not go into that, ^e said
Iraq could make a good port out of Kuweit; but he meant that
Iraq could get more business for 3asra and for Fao if Kuveit
were not in existence. However, there is no doubt that the
existence of a free and not entirely properly administered
port here in Kuweit i_s a thorn in the Iraqi side: and the
agents of the enemy lose no opportunity in pointing out that
(according to them) Kuweit depends upon us and upon ^ritisn
policy for its whole existence.
KUWEIT is especially busy just now, in spite of
the wretched state of tne pearl market. Fhe pearl market,
and the revenues derived from it, had already so declined
that even complete collapse is not now a major calamity; the
sea carrying trade has been improving to offset the loss from
pearls, and distribution of goods into the hinterland has
also greatly increased, as far as I can gather. But I see
everywhere as I go about signs of activity -- building (tnere
is an extraordinary number of new houses, though I see
that they are practically all merchants’ houses): snip-
building (I am told that most of the booms had to go off
v/ithout their carpenters this year, as so much worx was
offering here that the carpenters w mid not ship away,
preferring to stay in Kuweit where they are all busy):
furniture-making, and carnentery and joinery in general:

About this item

Content

This file contains a number of reports concerning different aspects of life in Kuwait, including its geography, history, flora and fauna, weather, political administration and leading personalities. Unless otherwise stated, the reports' author is Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Richard Patrick Dickson (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).

The reports appear as follows:

  • Note on Kuwait in 1933 incorporating Geography, Administration, History and Trade (folios 2-62)
  • Note on Villages of Kuwait State (folios 63-76)
  • Note on the Various Districts in Kuwait, Kuwait Neutral Zone, Summan Area , Hussaim and Suda (folios 77-104)
  • Notes on the "Batin" Valley, and "Dibdibba" Country (folios 105-120)
  • Note on the "Shaqq" Depression (folios 121-123)
  • Note on "Failakah" Island (folios 124-130)
  • Note on Native Craft of Kuwait (folios 131-135)
  • Note on the Prevailing Winds of Kuwait (folios 136-138)
  • Note on the Different Kinds of Fish found at Kuwait (folios 139-144)
  • Notes on the Drinking Water (Wells, etc) available in Kuwait Town, in Case of Military or Naval Operations (folios 145-147)
  • Notes on Personalities in Kuwait (folios 148-154)
  • Notes on Kuwait (folios 155-159)
  • A report on Kuwait Dhows (with odd notes attached at rear) written by Alan Villiers in 1939 (folios 160-183)
  • Leading Personalities of Kuwait written by Major Tom Hickinbotham in 1942 (folios 187-198)
  • Who's Who in Muscat written by John Baron Howes in 1942 (folios 199-209)
  • Conditions in Kuwait written by Major Maurice Patrick O'Connor Tandy in 1947 (folios 226-228)

Some of the reports contain handwritten notes in Arabic, notably when giving place names and geographical information.

Extent and format
1 file (235 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 237; these numbers are written in pencil 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.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 4/1 General Information regarding Kuwait and Hinterland' [‎179r] (357/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/179, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100040050674.0x00009e> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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