"ملف ٤/١ معلومات عامة بخصوص الكويت والمنطقة الداخلية" [و‎‎٢‎٩] (٤٧٤/٥٧)

2 1
Lliscellaneous Occupations^ The other occupations and in
dustries of the town are directed to the satisfaction of
local requiremsnts; an enumeration of then as they were in
1921 will help to elucidate the character of Kuwait* There
were then 80 dealers in piecegoods, 44 goldsmiths, 18 black
smiths, 6 tinaniths, 6 gunsmiths, 6 lamp-makers, 206 dealers
in Bedomin requisites (including 25 women), 24 leather
workers, 23 quilt makers, 55 haberdashers, 10 tailors, 50
cloak embroiderers (of whom only 5 keep shops and the re
mainder work in their homes) , 7 gold and sil braid workers;
4 makers of Aqals or Arab head fillets, 19 barbers, 11 con
fectioners, 23 bakers (including 13 women), 9 dealers in
marine stores (anchors, various kinds of rope, etc.) 12 pro
fessional cooks, 27 butchers, 45 tobacconists, 24 ghi sel
lers, 41 date merchants, 3 druggists, 18 fishmongers, 124
fruiterers, 147 rice dealers, 45 wheat dealers, 16 oil
merchants, 30 grass sellers ( of whom only 8 have shops)
and 15 dallals or brokers of private goods on commission.
There were at the same time 30 tea shops and 5 cafes. The
above figures were for the summer months; during the winter
many additional shops are opened temporarily by pearl divers
while not thus employed.
./eights, measures and currency. The weights and measures
by means of which the tradesmen of Kuwait conduct the busi
ness with one another and with the general public deserve
a brief notice. The most accurate of these, as is obviously
necessary, are those used in the pearl trade. Exceptionally
large and fine pearls are bought and sold singly, and there
is no recognised method of assessing their value. Kedium
pearls are assorted with reference to size by being passed
through a series of perforated brass or copper bowls, called
Tasah, U* , the standard set of which consists of four;
the perforations of the largest called Has are *18"
in diameter; of the second Batn .15 inches; of the
third, Dhail ^) ,.13 inches; and the fourth, Rabiah