"تصحيحات لدليل بلاد فارس. المجلد III" [و‎‎٣‎٣] (١٨٠/٦٧)

BUS—BUS
33
Population.
The present population is about 15,000. It is composed of extremely
heterogeneous elements, but it is predominately Persian. The following
are the most important of the classes represented :—
Persians.
Bushirls ..
.. 5,000
Shambadis
.. 1,000
Behbehanls
.. 1,000
Kazarunis
.. 1,000
Khanaslrls
300
Shlrazis ..
200
Tangslris
200
Duvvanis
200
Dehdashtis
160
Dashtis ..
100
Other Orientals.
Jews •• .. ..600
Armenians .. .. .. 33
Goanese .. .. .. 20
Baghdad Muhammadans .. 20
Baghdad Giristians .. .. is
Europeans.
British .. .. .. 37
Eurasians .. .. .. iq
French, Russians, Belgians, etc 18
As a whole the population are physically well-developed and mentally
quick and intelligent; but their naturally well-bred manners conceal an
unreliable and ungrateful disposition, and they are inclined to be uncivil
to foreigners, though less so than formerly. In 1912 the population was
said to be quite friendly to the British Indian troops, whom they came
to look upon as protectors from raiding bands.
The language usually spoken by the inhabitants is broken Persian, not
a quarter of the people speaking pure Persian. English is more used than
French.
Trade.
Bushire is still the chief gateway of foreign trade in Southern Persia.
Local trade is conducted in the bazars, which are situated on the east side
of the town ; the principal of these is clean, roofed in, and some 211 yards
in length. In all there are about 600 shops.
The only bank is the Imperial Bank of Persia. The following European
firms have depots in Bushire; chiefly for the sale of piece-goods
Messrs. Gray, Paul and Company 'l
Messrs. Ziegler and Company
Messrs. Coddington and Lamb
Messrs. Dixon and Company ^ British.
Messrs. Malcolm and Company |
Messrs. Sassoon and Company j
Messrs. Charles I Sassoon and Company J
Russian Steam Navigation Company
Messrs. Wonckhaus and Company (German.)
The trade of Bushire for the last few years has been as follows :—
1906-07. 1907-08. 1908-09. 1909-10. 1910-11. 1911-12.
Imports .. £803,842 £1,052,043 £793,405 £717,091 £075,014 £932,531.
Exports .. .. .. .. £400,892 £348,950 £009,020.
Much of the Bushire trade had been deflected to Arabistan, hence the
gradual decrease, up to 1911.
C394GSB