مجموعة ٩/٣٠(٢) "تقارير إدارية عن الخليج الفارسي - ١٩٤٥ -" [و‎‎٢‎٦‎٤] (١١٤٨/٥٢٧)

pil^riinage. The removal of the Persian Governiaent f s
resurictions on the pilgrimage resulted in an explosion
of pent-up religious fervour this year, Estimating
roughly f about 1 v J 00 Persian pilgrims travelled via
Kuwait — a severe drain on the town’s food supplies.
Jhe majority of them were well supplied with funds,
bringing into Kuwait an estimated sum of £ 3,000,000,
the release of which, forced up the cost of all but
mere necessities, whose prices are controlled. The
motor-car market in Kuwait was particularly affected
. th? a - ;e influx of pilgrims all seeking transport
and the prices of cars reached fantastic heights. The
cost of a seat in a lorry to the Holy Places and back,
which was only 3.1,200/- last year, reached 13.5,000/-
year. sik oi the costly vehicles broke down on
w. o ’ay, but they all reached Kecca in vehicles sent
to their aid by King Ibn 3aud and were in time to
perform the Haj.
v. j& jAhr iirih ;rs
The nomads have not been so fortunate as the inhabit
ants of Kuwait whose incomes have mostly Kept pace
Inflation. ’he Bedouin here rely on a supplji of
second-hand American woollen clothes, Indian cotton
pieoegoods and cheap staple commodities, which are
now either too expensive or not available. For these
they used to exchange their own high quality wool.ghi,
and meat on the hoof which could be released for
export. Before the Bedouin can buy their grain, it
must pass through several agencies responsible for
putting up the price, not the least of them being
the United Kingdom Commercial Corporation. They are
tending therefore, more and more, to eat their own
food products which,
however good
in quality,
do not