'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADEN SETTLEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 1920' [‎396v] (8/45)

Four hundred nnd twenty-nine steamers entered the Port of Perirn. agairi f
249 in 1918-19 of which 340 called for coal and 89 for various other purposes 8t
CHAPTER V.
Production and Distribution.
\
1. There is a third class Meteorological Observatory in Aden under th
superintendence of the First Assistant Resident Ti^
Weather and crops. maximum temperature recorded was 100-0 on the
22nd June 1919 and the minimum was 68-0 on 12th January 1920, the average
being 93-2. The climate during the year was as usual, viz., hot, damp and oppressive
from April to October and fairly cool from November to March.' There was no
rain to speak of, the total being only 45 cents. Hot sandy winds prevailed as
usual during the south-west monsoon. There are no crops in Aden, which depends
on foreign ports chiefly Indian and on supplies brought from the Hinterland and
by camel caravans. A few vegetables are obtained from Sheikh Othman in the
cool seasons.
2. In ordinary times there is no dearth of labour in Aden. There is a resident
„ r ... labouring class of Arabs, Indians, Jews and Somalia
and considerable numbers come periodically from the
interior of Arabia and the Somali Coast in search of wmrk. The Somalis are
averse to any sort of sustained physical labour ; they are chiefly employed as
boatmen, taxi drivers, etc., while the majority of them loaf about the town. The
Arabs are hardworking and are employed as labourers on the wharves, as coal
coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. and on road-making, etc,, The cost of living in Aden is high and the short
age of houses very acute.
3. There is as a rule not much variation in the wages of labour in Aden.
Wages were as follows during the year under reports
From To
Carpenters
Masons
Coal coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.
Day labourers
Rs. a. p.
2 0 0
1 8 0
18 0
0 8 0
Rs. a. p„
3 8 0
2 8 0
2 0 0
0 15 0
It may be observed that skilled Indian labourers generally earn better wages
than others in Aden. The wages of coal coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. and other daily labourers have
been raised on account of the high prices of food-stuffs,
4. Aden depends on imports (mostly Indian) for its food supply. The autho-
Prices and principal grains. TlSed prices of principal food-grains are given in Appen-
... ... jUV . \ Not much value can be attached to
these prices as there is no doubt the dealers raise them in spite of all precautions.
ihere has been an extraodmary increase in prices since the end of March
1916.
5. There is no forest in the Settlement. An effort at afforestation was made
Forest and horticulture. m 1883 by planting some seven acres of land at Sheik
r™ rv , . Uthman Wltil seedlings from seeds procured from India,
The effort has proved airly successful and the place has become a garden for the
cultivation of vegetables, etc. Some well-to-do native gentlemfn have tried
horticulture experiments at Sheikh Othman with some succesl They have planted
large plots of ground with fruit trees (chiefly date) and vegetables
6. The trade of Aden is mostly transhipment trade, the port serving as a
Trade and manufacture. centre ot distribution. The total seaborne trade in,
with the preceding year’s total of £9 WaS as compared
Merchandise increased by £3 151 007 and Ttp win S. an m( l re J ase £3,296,980.
trade with the interior of Arabia amoLted m< T Sed by £l45 ’ 973 ' ^
£125 478 resnectivelv o, „ amo ™ ;e ? m imports and exports to £295,498 and
£16,404/ le8p60tlVely ’ as com P«ed with last year’s totals of £105,129 and