Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎368r] (740/1028)

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(i) ^ <5 ^ 5 owed by Kuwait subjects to the ex-Shaikh of Mohammerah .—In
September the question as to whether Kuwait subjects who owed money to thee#-
Shaikh of Mohammerah, but were unable to make payment in cash, would be allowed
to settle their debts by transferring house property caused some anxiety to the Ruler.
The Hon ble the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. , whose advice was sought, referred the matter
^ to His Majesty s Government, who at the end of the year decided that it would be
wrong for house property iii Kuwait to pass into foreign hands in this fashion.
Tne Shaikh was instructed accordingly, he being at the same time urged to do
everything possible to assist in the settlement of debts on a cash basis.
IV.— Locusts.
In the 1st half of February, alarming stories of the approach of locusts from
the South began to be current, this was followed by reports from the neutral area
near the Southern border of Kuwait that very many sheep had died as a direct result
of the country-side being denuded of fodder.
On 25th February it became certain that Kuwait State would have to with
stand a visitation of the dreaded “ Dibba ” or locusts in the “ crawler ” stage.
The Shaikh made plans for an organized campaign against the insects should they
march on the town. On 10th March messengers from the South brought news
of the hatching of the dreaded “ Dibba ” everywhere.
On 28th March a vast army of black “ crawlers ” was reported 15 miles South
of the town. While other armies were reported to be converging on Jabara the
oasis 20 miles W est of Kuwait. On 7th April 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. visited and ex
amined the Dibba ” area to the South of the town and found crawlers advancing
on a 4 mile front with depth of 2 miles. The country over which the insects had
passed was stripped quite bare, and where bushes had previously been seen nothing
but bare desert sand remained. Even thick stalks of large bushes 3 feet high
were entirely devoured.
On 11th April 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. proceeded to Jahara to see what could be done
to help the Shaikh’s officials in the serious situation that had arisen there. Pie
found the settlement in process of being attacked and overrun by a vast horde of
Dibba ’. The villagers were making a gallant fight by means of trenches,
fires, and covering the walls of their gardens with newspapers, strips of tin, and
glazed paper brought from Kuwait. These latter prevented the insects from
climbing. But the efforts of the people were unavailing and the gardens round
Jahara were all overwhelmed. 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. estimated the attacking
army to have a 5 mile front with unknown depth, there being two forms of insects,
the black one of 2 weeks’ growth, and the black and yellow of a month’s growth.
None of them had wings.
On the 22nd April myriads of “ Dibbas ” reached Kuwait town, and in spite of
all the Shaikh’s plans to combat them, swept over the city walls into the town, and
destroyed every garden in the place. The ravages of the creatures and the persis
tent way in which they swarmed over every building and into the innermost
appartments of houses, had to be seen to be believed. The Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. building endur
ed a five days attack, and in spite of gauze doors and windows a great many got in
side the public rooms, where they did much damage to carpets and furniture.
On 28th April relief came, and there was an easing off of the plague as the
locusts in the meantime had grown wings and learned to fly. In the process milhons
fell into the sea.
By 1st May none were left South of the Bay of Kuwait, though the flying horde
continued its depredations towards the North.
V .—Pearl Season.
The 1930 Pearl Season was a complete failure as far as the sale of pearls was
concerned, though the actual catch w^as up to average. This coming on top of the
disastrously bad 1929 season and the continued failure of Kuwait to come to a
trade agreement with Bin Saud resulted in one of the most serious situations that
Kuwait has as yet had to meet. The arrival at Bahrain of Monsieur Rosenthal
and other well known Paris dealers in September for a short time caused hopes to
rise, but when these finally left without buying, matters looked bad indeed. By
the end of the year we had the spectacle of wealthy pearl merchants so poor
MCI 71 F. D.