Skip to item: of 474
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'File 4/1 General Information regarding Kuwait and Hinterland' [‎217r] (433/474)

This item is part of

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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

SECHET
2^
KUTA.IT. (contd.)
jUAYAGrE . (contd.)
A Mtumen lake exists within 18 miles of Kuwait and there
are ample supplies of coral rock suitable for jetty enlargements
etc.
Harbour craft consists of motor boats, booms and barges.
Booms (lighters) vary in capicity from 1000 to 2000 bags or
packages. Barges have a similar capicity.
The rate of cargo discharges varies according to whether
bags or packages are being unloaded. The former are discharged
at the rate of 300 per hatch per hour in good weather and the
latter at 200. In bad weather lighter work suffers consider
ably dropping to half or less per hour.
LIFTING- APPLIANCES .
There is one 5-ton hand crane at the main port.
ffAHEHOUSES .
There is fairly large warehousing space in the Customs
sheds.
THE TQ'.TN .
Kuwait Town, the capital^of the AMI3ATE of Kuwait, is one
of the most important in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It is built on a
considerable slope, the houses being about 50 feet above those
on the sea front. It is surrounded on its landward side by
a wall in which are 38 towers and 5 gates. The houses are
mostly of stone and sun-dried bricks. The Sheikhis town palace
has a small roof which is the highest point of any building in
the town.
The population of Kuwait is estimated at 70,000.
Ho spit als. There is one hospital and two outpatient dispen-
saries in the town. The hospital is the American Mission
Hospital and consists of two"sections, men and women. Both
these sections cater for Arabs only, and have no suitable
accommodation for Europeans, but the latter can be admitted
in an emergency. Number of beds -25.
The Kuwait Oil Company have two rooms (one air-conditioned)
for use of their employees near, and under the care of the
Mission Hospital.
There are also two out-patient dispensaries.
GOVEBNUENT ESTABLISHMENTS . NIL.
COL TlEBCI A L ESTABLISHMENTS .
Kuwait is a large boat-building centre and is famous for
the excellence of the dhows and booms constructed. All work
done is entirely manual, no machinery of any kind being in
existence. All craft are built entirely out of timber which
is imported by dhows returning from Africa and Malabar. The
largest ship yet built measures 130 feet overall with a moulded
depth of 16 feet.
OIL. In January 1934, the Kuwait Oil Company was formed by
agreement with the A.I.O.C. and the American Gulf Co. The
control of the Company is on a 50# basis, but by the terms of
the agreement fcactssMEXBHfc between H.M. Government and the
/ Company

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
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'File 4/1 General Information regarding Kuwait and Hinterland' [‎217r] (433/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/179, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100040050675.0x000022> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100040050675.0x000022">'File 4/1 General Information regarding Kuwait and Hinterland' [&lrm;217r] (433/474)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100040050675.0x000022">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0000a6/IOR_R_15_5_179_0433.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000831.0x0000a6/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image