'File 10/8 Overseas trade enquiries' [‎170r] (340/495)

PAgT_ II e
(Dealing more i^rxticulsrly v/ith the mar ice t
in the Principality of Kuv/ait).
Lo cal Production .
cotton piece goods of any Kind are manufactured in Kuwait,
The chi^f cloth manufactured and then in primitive style, is call 3d
"Darry Bisht", and is exclusively used for making "Bishts" or Arab
cloaks (known el severe as "Abb alls"). This cloth is woven from
Sii^aps wool and txie thread is spun locally by poorer class of .Tabs
as a sort of spare-timo hoob; , "Dairy Bisht" cloth is availabl- in
two quant it i is^ the first of a coarse and thick texture, which is
used by men and women alike for their winter cloaks, end the second,
0; ^ a finer texture, which is mainly us ad by men only for their summer
cloaks. Tnis "Dai'-iy Bisht" is usually available in lengths of 6 to
% yards and costs on an average from £0.10-8 to £0,13.4 a piece. A
rolx or piace, su^xicimt for one cloakjtaices from 4 to 6 days to
-weave. A simil r cloth woven f rom carnal-wool is pJso available at
a iiigher cost and is known as "v/ubDar". This is for the most part
manufactured at the Persian Seaboard and in the district of DASHTI#
Th ^re is a t.iird kind of very coarse doth which is universally used
a 1 o;ig the Nomad Bedouin of tne interior for making their tents.
It is woven by tribal women from goats ano shoep hair into long
strips Ig- feet wide, and in lengths as desired. A length 25 feet
long costs i.0,8,0 approximately. Five strips go to make the roof
of each tent, while other strips are used for the sides,usually
aiother five.
Imports of British Goods .
It is most difficult to give exact figures of the proportion of
piece O oods imported in^o Ku'.vait from 2-reat Britain, as a considerable
amouu. Oz coi v imodity is iiTported via India and Inaq, and is given
out by local shopkeeper to be of English origin. There can however
be li^t^e doubt that whereas they are marketed as British goods, they
are mostly of foreign manufacture. On the other hand nearly all
prints are imported i rom Manchester, and are available in many textures
and shades.
I-port of Foreign Goods .
Apc-it from tiie difticulty of obtaining detailed information