"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎١‎٢] (٣٩٦/٢٣٠)

FOR THE YEAR 1917.
51
CHAPTER XI.
ADMINISTRATION EEPORT FOR THE KUWAIT AGENCY EOR THE
YEAR 1917.
There are no signs of retardation in the growth of material prosperity of
General this town as noticed in last year's report.
On the contrary, the ratio of improve
ment has increased and this is due chiefly to two causes, greater demands in
Central Arabia for foodstuffs and piece-goods, whose other markets have been
closed as a result of the war, and an exceptionally brisk trade with Persian
ports. A good pearling season >vas also a contributing factor. Kuwait is one
of those places, which, far from feeling any bad effects from these world-wide
hostilities, has actually grown richer and happier. Pearl merchants often sigh
for the close of the war, hoping that this will put up the price of the gems to
their pre-war figures, but the catch has been good, prices none too bad and
they have little to complain of. There have been no failures among them.
Towards the end of the year the British India Steam Navigation Company
resumed their fortnightly service, a boon which has been greatly appreciated
by the Shaikh and people.
Two regrettable incidents mark the year 1917. His Excellency Shaikh
Jahiras -Subah, C.S.I., died on February 5th, after a short illness from acute
gastritis. He w T as a very debonair and pleasant gentleman whose mildness and
affability made him a popular ruler. The other misfortune w T as an unprece-
dectedly severe epidemic of small-pox, which has caused the death of several
thousand persons up to the present time.
Shaikh Jabir w-as succeeded by his younger brother Salim-al-Mubarak,
himself a man of over fifty. A very different type of man from his brother,
he is a stern Muhammadan and an uncomprising ruler. Not content with
maintaining order in the town. Shaikh Salim has taken steps to secure the
frontiers of his territory on the desert side and to regain the influence among
$16 Bedouins which his father, the late Sir Mubarak, formerly weilded.
Lieutenant-Colonel R. E. A. Hamilton, Political Agent, proceeded on a
jspecial mission to Nejd. Leaving Kuwait on October 12th, he travelled first
to Zilfi and after visiting the towns of Boraidah, Anaizeh, Mudhnib and Shakra,
in all of which he had an excellent reception, arrived at Riadh in the middle
of November. He remained there for three weeks as the guest of the Imam
Abdulaziz bin Saud, and thence returned by the Hafar-al-Ats-al-Habba route
on December 28th.
During the year 4,700 camels, 19,975 sheep, 1,111 cattle, and 3.000 tons
stores, were purchased in Kuwait for the
Supplies to the Expeditionary Force. Commissariat Department. Zaid Budai, a
lo(jal merchant, purchased the sheep and cattle, and Abdulaziz bin Hasan the
camels. Both men have rendered conspicuous services to Government during
the war. The Shaikh fell in with the w r ishes of Government in furnishing
native craft for the conveyance of foodstuffs from India to Basrah. 2,500 tons
of cargo-space was thus reserved for ships going to India wdth dates and return
ing with grain. Besides this, large numbers of small craft have been employed
in river transport on the Shatt-al-Arab.
Ihe condensing plant is now r ready to work only awaiting a supply of
oil, of which there is a temporary short-
Water condensing plant.
age.
2,615 out-patients were treated in the charitable dispensary compared with
2,823 last year. 292 operations were per-
Pubhc Health. formed and 55 vaccinations.
The severe epidemic of small-pox, towards the latter part of the year, with
§reat mortality, was probably spread by the abnormal influx of Bedouin tribes