A handshake for a hundred camel loads
In a tale of trust and tradition, British editor A R Lindt recounts a 1937 rice deal in Kuwait
By Mahmoud Zakaria
This story is based on real events that took place in 1937. It was documented by A R Lindt, editor of the British magazine Picture Post, who visited Kuwait that year and witnessed the events firsthand. The story was later published in the magazine on October 15, 1938.
Lindt visited Kuwait with his wife, following a recommendation from the British ambassador in Baghdad. He stayed at the residence of the British Political Agent in Kuwait, Captain Gerald de Gaury, and was placed under his supervision. De Gaury grew suspicious of Lindt's intentions due to his many inquiries into Kuwaiti affairs, suspecting possible ties to the German government.
Lindt left Kuwait on July 6, 1937 aboard a Kuwaiti pearl diving ship owned by the renowned Kuwaiti merchant Ahmad Al-Sarhan. His role aboard the ship came through a nomination by Abdullah Al-Mulla Saleh, the Kuwaiti government secretary, who appointed him as a translator for Al-Sarhan.
1 The famous Kuwaiti merchant Suleiman Al-Haroun (the seller)
2 The client sits in Hajj Suleiman's office to begin bargaining over the price of the deal.
3 The merchant and the customer exchange in light-hearted banter, as the principles of Arab hospitality require a general conversation interspersed with some jokes before talking about the deal.
4 The client begins to disclose his request to purchase 100 camel loads of rice, with payment to be made after six months.
5 Research into previous transactions with this client begins through files.
6 After offers and negotiations, Hajj Suleiman decides to complete the deal and agree on the terms.
This story — 'Hajj Suleiman Sells 100 Camel Loads of Rice' — details commercial practices in Kuwait at the time, as seen through Lindt's interactions with several Kuwaiti traders. These included Fahad Abdulatif Al-Fawzan, Abdullah Al-Mulla Saleh, Ahmad Al-Sarhan and others. As for the merchant Suleiman mentioned in the article's title, his exact identity remains unclear, but it is widely believed he was the well-known Kuwaiti trader Suleiman Al-Haroun.
Lindt personally witnessed this fascinating story, which gives us insight into how business deals were conducted in Kuwait during that era. In this case, the deal involved Kuwaiti merchant Suleiman Al-Haroun and a buyer negotiating the sale of rice — a shipment estimated at 100 camel loads.
The buyer arrived, and the two men began negotiating. As part of the bargaining process, the merchant relaxed, took off his shoes, and began rhythmically shaking his feet. The buyer, in a typical negotiation tactic, left the office several times, signaling disinterest and trying to gain the upper hand.
Despite these maneuvers, the deal ultimately came together — as was often the case. Once both parties reached an agreement, they sealed it with a handshake. Lindt asked the Kuwaiti merchant, 'Surely you'll receive a written confirmation for this transaction?' The merchant replied, 'No, a handshake between us is enough. I've already given instructions for the goods to be delivered.'
7 Finally, the handshake signifies the deal, as Hajj Suleiman says to the buyer, 'I will send you the rice now, and you will pay me in dollars after six months.'
8 Hajj Suleiman welcomes his guest, the buyer of the deal, and invites him to dinner before his departure.
A R Lindt
Mahmoud Zakaria
The Oct 15, 1938 cover of Picture Post magazine that carried this story.
Lindt admired this method of business, built on mutual trust. In his observations, he also noted the progress Kuwait had made by that time. Kuwaiti merchants had begun using filing cabinets, typewriters and electric fans. They followed global stock prices via cable and wireless technology. The country also boasted a state-of-the-art ice factory — the most advanced of its kind during that period.
Despite the modernization, Kuwaitis maintained a strong social and familial structure rooted in tribal affiliations. Lindt remarked that the ruler of Kuwait could truly be considered a father figure to his people.
PS: Special thanks to the Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait and Fahad Al-Abduljaleel, the historical researcher who helped publish and document the details of this captivating story.
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