'File 10/8 Overseas trade enquiries' [‎171r] (342/495)

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portaining to pises goods, locel merchants are alv/ays oxtre 'ely shy of
disclosing correct wholesale prices and figures given in the appendix
of this report have only been obtained with great difficulty. The
term "piece goods" of course embraces many kinds, qualities and grades
of cloth, but the main lines of foreign piece goods obtainable in the
Kuwait bazaar are:-
(1) Long cloth or sheeting.
(2) Artificial silks.
(3) Muslinette and Voile.
(4) Imtation -woollen materiel or flannelette.
(5) Head*- cloths or Kliaffiyas.
(6) Coarse silk faoric Known as " JgZZ "o
(1) Lon.?, cl o th sheeting is avilable in different grades and t extures
and is principally imported from Russia, Japara, America and China while
a good deal comes from Manchester. Russian sheeting which is not as
yet i^rported in large quantities, but which shows a distinct signs of
increasing, finds its way in Kuwait by dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and mostly from IvSbhammerah,
where from all accounts it continues to arrive in enormous quantities
with other Russian cotton goods. Japanese, American, Snglish and
Chinese sheeting is either imported via 'Iraq and India or direct.
It is obtainable in crea^. and white and the prices vary according to th
quality, width and texture as will be seen from the different accompany
ing samples. American, Japanese and Cninese shjeting is the most
popular in Kuwait, as the first is claimed to be very durable, and the
latter cheaper and therefore in groat demand among the poorer class of
Arabs for making their long shirts (Disdashas).
(2) Artificial SIIk is steadily gaining popularity in Kuwait. It is
now greatly in demand by Arab ladies of the middle and well-to-do class
for purposes of dresses.
Japan and in particular Italy are the main sources from thich
the supply is imported, though Austria is now coming into the maricet.
The artificial silk goods are of good quality and of gr3at variety and
colour, types D, E and V mentioned in the appendix being especielly
popular.