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File 1407/1918 'Kowait Trade Reports. (1911-1930)' [‎55v] (115/746)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (368 folios). It was created in 26 Jun 1912-12 Aug 1931. It was written in English. 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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Gypsum mortar is sold by the iarah of 100 maun*
oi iiZqiyahs or 11,133 lbs. The te™ *araA s
also used for date palm branches in which sense
means 1,000 branches.
Beams and masts are sold by the Calicut fondy
or 10 cubic feet 29 cubic inches : ; ou “ d ™ f £ rs ,£
spars by the Icorjah or score and boat ribs b> the
glri or cart load of 40 pieces or upward according
tO S1Z6.
The 4-gallon kerosene oil tin is used as a measure
of capacity for the sale of water. . .
Of the smaller weights is the kabbah, ec l^ lv * ®
to 3 grains Troy, used in the sale of gold a nd . 8 ‘ lver -
Gold is normally sold by the m%thqal attar* of 18
habbahs, or 54 grains, and also by the Turlash poun
and fractions thereof. Silver is sold by the mrtq&l
Shlrdzi of 24 habbahs, or 72 grains Tbe mUhqal
* attdri and the mithqal Shiraz* are also both used
‘ for drugs and silk thread : but for this purpose
they are not divided into habbahs, but only into
halves and quarters, the niceties of weight being
arrived at by using the two mithqals and their frac
tions in conjunction. Perfumes, as also gold thread,
are sold by the tolah of 180 grains.
Tn the pearl trade the following weights and
measures are most commonly used m Kuwait.
Wholesale purchase of pearls from the Captains of
pearling boats are made chiefly by size. Foi tkis
purpose, after any exceptionally good pearls, which
it is desired to dispose of separately, have been
removed, remainder are assorted by being passed
through a series of perforated brass or copper bowls,
the standard set of which consists^ of four: the
perforations of the largest, called rds are *18 m
diameter; those of the second, batn -15 , those
of the third, dhail '13", and those of fourth, rain ah
•11*, After being assorted into rds, batn, etc., they
change hands at a previously arranged rate, at so
much the mithqdl i Arabi, which is equivalent to
50 grains. The ordinary pearls then usually pass
from one dealer to another on the more precise
kind of estimate based upon weight. In Kuwait
the Bombay mithqdl equivalent to 75 grains Troy,
and sub-divided into 24 ratis each of 15 dnahs, is
usually employed. The unit in the dealers system
is called a chau, and, although derived from a weight,
it is not in itself a weight. The number of chaus
in a pearl is found by squaring the weight of the
pearl in mthqdls and multiplying the result by 330.
The chau is divisible into 100 dukrahs, and the dukrah
into 100 baddms. There are other kinds of chaus
also occasionally used, and obtained by an identical
process from other mithqdls, such as the poona
mithqal of 68| grains,
The normal unit of length is the dhird’’ or cubit
of 19", but for rope, which is also sold by the weight,
the bd,' or fathom is usually employed. There is
po square measure in usef and a plot of ground
is described as being so many dhird's according
to the sum of its sides.
The Year 1927-28.
The year was unfavourable for trade as there was
still no trade with Najd. Although the imports
and exports show higher rate than that of the last
year, considerable quantity of the imported ^pds
remained unsold, partly owing to unsettled ^ ,te
of the country round Kuwait during the winter
months, which hampered such trade with the hinter
land that does still exist: and perhaps more so,
to the increased efficiency of the Persian Preventive
Service which has practically stopped the smuggling
of sugar and tea to the Persian Coast. Consequently
many people left Kuwait for Bahrain, Jubail and
Qatif to seek employment: and even a few merchants
transferred to Bahrain and are carrying on trade
there. The pearling season was considerably better
than those of the two previous years. The number
of oysters was not large but the yield was fairly
rich. The pearl market had also improved but was
far from good.
Imports.
The total imports by sea amounted to £410,010
and showed an increase of 16*52 as compared with
the figures for 1926-27. This is accounted for by
the increased import of sugar and specie.
The import of piece-goods showed a decrease of
23-67 and that of tea 71-8 over their respective
imports for the year 1926-27.
The total import trade 66-4 per cent was with
India, 15-24 per cent with ‘Iraq, 11-57 per cent
with Persian Coast, 3-39 per cent with Arabian
Coast, and 3-4 per cent with other countries.
Exports.
The total export by sea amounted to £219,437
and showed an increase of 22*15 as compared with
figures for 1926-27. This is accounted for by the
increased known export of pearls and specie, but
accurate figures for pearls and specie can never be
obtained as these are often exported amongst
personal luggage. There was also an increase in
the export of Arab Cloaks, tea, suggar, building
material, firewood and wool.
Customs Administration and Lighterage.
The administration of the Kuwait Customs is
supervised by a local Arab and the system works
satisfactorily. An import duty of four per cent
ad valorem is charged, and there is no export duty
except on goods brought in from the interior, such
as cl&rified butter, hides, wool, etc., on which four
per cent is charged, if exported,

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to the Kuwait trade reports for the years 1912-1930.

The printed reports cover the period 1 April to 31 March and follow a similar format: a general narrative and sections on imports, exports, customs administration and lighterage, freight, shipping and navigation, sea fisheries, boat building, labour, minerals, domestic animals, agriculture, rainfall, public health, exchange rates and weights.

Also included are statistical tables showing total imports and total exports by country. Further tables show total imports and exports of principal articles and by sailing craft and steamers and by quantity and value.

Principal articles listed for imports include anchors, animals, arms and ammunition, barley, bamboos, cars, carpets, building materials, charcoal, coal, fruits, firewood, furniture, glass, goat hair, gunny bags, ironware, marine stores, oil products, petroleum, potatoes, rice, sail cloth, tobacco, and wood.

Tables for export of principal articles (by buggalows and steamers) list the item and the country to which it is exported. These include animals (to India), barley (to Muscat and Germany), and shark-fins (to India). Export destinations listed include India, Bahrain, Muscat, Germany, the Persian Coast, and 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. .

Many of the reports include a map of Kuwait (folios 32, 54, 76, 95, 117, 145, 161, and 198).

The report is sent 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, to the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department and then forwarded to the Permanent-Secretary, Political Department, 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. , London. Covering minute papers of the Secret Department note the year of the report and sometimes also give a viewpoint.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (368 folios)
Arrangement

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

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 370; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 1407/1918 'Kowait Trade Reports. (1911-1930)' [‎55v] (115/746), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/738, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100077602989.0x000074> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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