File 1407/1918 'Kowait Trade Reports. (1911-1930)' [‎162v] (329/746)

spars by the korjah or soore ; and boat ribs by the
gari or cart load of 40 pieces or upwards according
to size.
The four gallon kerosene oil tin is used as a measure
of capacity ; it is chiefly used for the sale of water,
but clarified butter, fat and date syrup are also
sometimes sold by the tin.
Of the smaller weights is the habbah equivalent to
three grains Troy, is used in the sale of gold and
silver. Gold is normally sold by the mithqdl ’attari
of 18 habbahs or 54 grains, and also by the Turkish
pound and fractions thereof. Silver is sold by the
mithqdl Shirdzi or 24 habbahs or 72 grains. The
mithqdl ’attdri and the mithqdl Shirdzi 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 mithqdls and their frac
tions in conjunction. Perfumes as also gold thread,
are sold by the toldh of 180 grains.
In the pearl trade the following weights and
measures are most commonly used in Kuwait.
Wholesale purchases of pearls from the captains of
pearling boats are made chiefly by size. For this
purpose, after any exceptionally good pearls, which
it is desired to dispose of separately, have been
removed, the 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 inch in
diameter; those of second, batn -15 inch ; those
of third, dhail, *13 inch ; and those of the fourth
rdbi'ah -11 inch. After being assorted into rds,
batn, etc., they change hands at a previously arranged
rate, at so much the mithqdl ’Arabi, which is equi
valent to 450 grains. The ordinary pearl then usual
ly passes from one dealer to another on a more
precise kind of estimate based upon weight; in
Kuwait the Bombay mithqdl, equivalent to 75 grains
Troy, and subdivided into 24 rattis each of 15 dnahs
is usually employed. The unit in the dealer’s 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 mithqdls and multiplying the result by 330.
The chav is divisible into 100 dukrahs, and the dukrah
into 10 baddma. There are other kinds of chaus
also occasionally used, and obtained by an identical
process from other mithqdls, such as Poona mithqdl
of 68f grains.
The normal unit of length is the dhird\ or cubit
of 19 inches, but for rope, which is also sold by
weight, the bd’ or fathom is usually employed.
There is no square measure in use ; and a plot of
ground is described as being so many dhira’s according
to the sum of its size.
Introduction.
The year under review was not favourable to
' trade owing to the unsettled state of the interior,
there being no trade with Najd throughout th<*
year.
The pearling season, on which the prosperity of a
large number of the inhabitants of Kuwait depends
opened badly as regards catch, but improved later'
and was better on the whole than that of the two
previous years. The market for pearls was also
better.
The figures given in Table B are no real criterion
of the pearls exported, as compared with other
years, as they only show those exported by steamers,
no figures being available for the large number ex
ported by sailing craft, or for those taken in the
personal luggage of passengers by steamers.
Imports.
The total imports by sea amounted to £740,278,
and showed a decrease of 33:48 per cent as compared
with the figures Tor 1921-22, which is accounted for
by the decreased import of barley, clarified butter,
coffee, dhail, haberdashery, rice, specie, sugar, tallow,
wheat, wheat flour and window elbows.
Of these total import trade 78-09 per cent was
with India, 10-56 per cent with ’Iraq, 9'20 per cent
with Persian Coast, l^O per cent with Arab Coast,
•43 per cent with America and -43 per cent with other
countries.
Export.
The total export by sea amounted to £551,460
and showed an increase of 1:44 per cent as compared
with the figures for 1921-22.
Of the total export trade 50-98 per cent was with
India, 33’46 per cent with Persian Coast, 8‘69 per
cent with ’Iraq, 6-75 per cent with Arab Coast and
•12 per cent with other countries.
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 4 per cent ad
valorem is charged, and there is no export duty,
except on goods brought in from the Interior, such
as clarified butter, hides, wool, etc., on which 4 per
cent is charged if exported.
The arrangements for lightering and landing
cargo at Kuwait are superior to those at any port
in the Perisan Gulf.
Freight, Shipping and Navigation.
Kuwait owns about 200 sailing boats engaged in
the carrying trade, as distinct from pearling and
fishing boats. Of these sixty have a carrying capa
city of over 100 tons, including 8 of over 300 tons
and 20 of over 230 tons.
The British India Steam Navigation Company,
Limited, maintain a weekly service from, and a
fortnightly service to, India.