'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART II: L to Z' [‎33r] (70/988)

LIN—LIN
652
returns is one consignment of two bags (five cwts.) which represents a snc-
■cessful haul by the Customs’ launch. The total consumption of tea is
estimated at about 10 tons, and this is likewise mainly imported by illicit
means, as both tea and coifee carry a prohibitive duty. Extensive smug
gling also goes on in connection with the export of pearls, which are the
principal product of the district. As they are so easy to conceal it is not
surprising that large quantities of pearls are secretly exported without
paying the I per cent export duty or the ^ per cent freight to India. The
result is that the exports of pearls for the year are officially valued at
£40,390, about half that of the former year, while the actual value of the
exports is estimated by the Consul at £350,000.
The carrying trade of Lingeh, in the past considerable, is not unlikely
to fall off in the future in sympathy with the general export and import
business. At the present time 2 sailing barques, 19 baghlahs and 14
.ghunchahs and sambuqs belong to the port, besides 22 lighters; the last are
sambuqs, baqdreqs and jolly-boats. This local shipping affords employment
to about 740 persons.
Occupations other than trade. —The principal resource of Lingeh, apart
from “commerce and navigation, is the pearl-fishery: there are about 30
pearl-boats of sizes (sambuqs, latils and baqdrehs). The sea-fisheries are of
some value and employ 10 baqdrehs, 17 shu’ais and 20 haris and varjis.
Date-culture is of some importance, but other cultivation is insignificant
in consequence of the paucity of the means of irrigation. There are some
mechanics and artisans and Lingeh is said to be the best place in the Gulf
to have ironwork made or necessary repairs to ships executed though the
workmanship is rude.
The standard of weight is a local man, equal to 9 lbs. English, and the
standard of length a zar’ of 38 English inches. The currency is that of
Persia, but the Indian rupee, Maria Theresa dollar, Turkish lira, and English
.sovereign also circulate.
Communications, transport and supplies. —Land communications and
land transport are dealt with in the article on Lingeh district, and
the nature of the sea communications may be gauged by the remarks
on shipping above. The water of Lingeh is generally abundant, and
-cattle, poultry, vegetables, rice, flour and firewood are available in some
quantity. Atta and ghi are also procurable locally. Water is scarce,
•as rain sometimes fails. The usual source of supply is birkehs, namely,
broad wells about 20—40 feet deep ‘covered by domed roofs. These
abound in the town and outskirts, but in April 1912 they were nearly
all dry. One about 2 miles south-wert of the town and others ll miles in
the same direction still contained water at that time. In addition to birkehs
there are narrow deep wells without covering, usually in groups of 5 or 6 ,
'dotted about the town.
Admiiiistration.^lAngeh, as one of the Gulf Ports, is subject to the
Governor of that division, but is administered by a local Deputy
Governor. That nature of his administration is described in the article
on Lingeh district. The Imperial Persian Customs have a post here, and
there is a small Persian garrison, as already mentioned in the article on