"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٨‎٨] (٣٩٦/٣٨٣)

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ANNTAL REPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY.
Fopidadon. —The settled population of the Sultanate is estimated at
nbout 85,000 of whom about 60,000, are resident in Kuwait town. Of the
latter, about 35,000 are Kuwaitis, 15,000 Persians and Bahrainis and 10,(00
Najidis, Bedouins and natW^of Iraq.
Tribes. —Two tribes, the Awazim and the Rashaidah, together with a
portion of the Muteir, form the bulk of the population outside that of Kuwait
town. Small bands of other tribes such as l)hafir, Beni Khalid etc. (who are
merely visitors) enter Kuwait territory at certain seasons.
Villages. —The principal villages in the district with their approximate
populations are :—Jahara, 500; Fantas, 400: Abu lltilaifah, 200: Pahaihil
200: Shi'aibah, 60.
Tusf al Dawairi.-~Y\xs\xi n\ Dawairi (mentioned in last year's report),,
vilh the concurrence of His Excellency the Shaikh, was given permission in
July to return to Kuwait but he'has not yet done so. He is still at Bombay,
where it is said he has elected to remain for the present.
Blockade. —7.he shipping restrictions as regards exports from India to
Kuwait referred to in the report for 1918 were removed at the beginning of the
yetr and steamers resumed bringing cargo to Kuwait in February.
Aims Traffic. —Reports are still being received from different sources about
the smuggling of arms and ammunition from Kuwait into Tangistan and other
smaller ports on the Persian Coast.
In October it was reported from Eabrain that a Kuwait boom, Nakhuda
•Ahmed, al Ghadairi, arrived there on 21st September with a Kuwaiti*.
Abadullah' Ali al Sharidah, having 40 rifles and 1,200 cartridges hidden in
his bedding and attempting to smuggle them at night but detected by the
Customs special watchman. The arms were seized and confiscated by the
^Shaikh of Bahrain, and the man and the Nakhuda were let off without further
enquiry or punishment.
Enquiries made here went to show that neither 'Abdullah bin 'Ali al
Sharidah went from Kuwait by Nakhuda Ahmed al Ghadari's boom nor was
lie a Kuwait subject. It appears that on the night they w r ere seized the arms-
were brought on board the Kuwait boom at Pah rain from shore in a jolly boat
tor shipment to some unknown destination. The case is still under enquiry.
Tearl fishery. —Tie pearl season was a veiy successful om 1 . Although the
m hole Kuwait pearling fleet did not participate^ in the fishery for want of
crevs, the take was above the average and prices ruled ve?y high—much higher
than those of the lest 5 or 6 years.
evenu ^—The Shaikh's principal sources of revenues are :—
1. Customs.
2. Pearl-fisheiy.
S Private property (principally date gardens at Fao).
The Customs bring him about Rs. 7,50,000 per annum, while his date
gardens at Fao yield him rboufc Rs 7,00 000. He gets a d/iver's share in each
Kuwait peailing boat.
Irrigation —The land around Kuwait is rich and admirably suited to
iriigation but is de^ei d' nt on wells, of v> hich there are not many, as a source ot'
supply. Irrigation is therefore confined to a few centres wheie water is found;
Jtgi Ifulture. —The area w der cultivation is {-mall due to the scarcity of
water. The principal cultivation centres are Jahra, Hawallii and a few
viilages al.org the Qasur coast. Wheat and barley arc sown in the open desert
in the rainy season and under favourable condiiions as much as 60 tons is got?
in this way. Small quantities of vegetables are brought into Kuwait town
from the surrounding: villages but the town is principally dependent on the-
S Mtfc-al-Arab gardens for its green stuffs.
Judicial. —Justice is administered by the Shaikh, in- the most arbitrary
way, and his word is law.
The Political Agent is not vested with judicial powers, and cases of British
subjects are therefore settled by him informally, and those between British
subjects and Arabs are referred to the Shaikh for equitable settlement.