"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٤‎٠‎٢] (٥٤٢/٤١٣)

402
GAZETTEEK OF TOWNS
There has been a British Eesidency at Koweit for some years.
Climate and Hygiene. —The climate of Koweit is said to compare
favourably with that of most Persian Gulf ports. It has been stated
that in December and January the climate is perfect, bracing in the
mornings and evenings, and never unpleasantly hot. On the other
hand, a 1908 Eeport says that it is sometimes bitterly cold in winter,
especially when a Shmnal (N. wind) is blowing. In summer the
prevailing wind which blows from the NW. is somewhat tempered
by crossing 10 m. of water in the bay, and the clean desert sand
cools down rapidly at night. The air, however, except in a breeze,
is laden with vile odours, chiefly that of fish-oil.
Fever is practically unknown, and dysentery and ophthalmia
are rare. The sanitary system is rudimentary, the sewage being
deposited in large, open public cesspools in the various quarters.
Supplies and Commerce. —Water, reported to be of indifferent
quality, is obtained from the following sources :—
(1) Scattered wells SW. of the town, and 4,000 to 5,000 yds. ENE.
of Bandar Showeikh. Most of the water for the town is got from
these wells.
(2) Wells with abundance of water about 3 m. SSE. of Koweit.
(3) Wells at Eas 'Ajuzeh, E. of the town.
(4) Wells at Jahrah.
Water is also brought from the Shatt el-'Arab, and a tank steamer
has recently been acquired by the Sheikh for this purpose. Better
water, however, is procurable from the wells of Qasr es-Sirreh,
8 m. SSE. of Koweit, or from those of Mushrif, 2 m. E. of Qasr
es-Sirreh.
Forage and vegetables are mostly brought from Jahrah or imported
from abroad. There is sparse grazing for herds of the Bedouin
during the winter months and there is some pasture for camels, but
otherwise the place has no agricultural resources. There are no
date plantations or cultivated fields round Koweit. Most kinds of
food-stuffs can in normal times be procured in the town.
Koweit is the only port for the Jebel Shammar district of Central
Arabia. The population is almost entirely engaged in pearl-diving,
fishing, and the coastal trade. Some 500 boats are engaged in the
pearl industry, their size varying from 30 to 300 tons. A large
number of the pearl-fishers now visit the Ceylon pearl banks in
winter. The fish weirs on the flat beach are very conspicuous.
Most of the carrying trade is with the upper and western part of
the Persian Gulf and the Shatt el-'Arab ; its ordinary limits are
Qatif on the S. and Basra on the N., and the boats engaged in it are
seldom absent from Koweit more than two months at a time. The