'Mesopotamia' [‎66r] (131/152)

Mesopotamia!
IMPORTS
121
Matches. —Before the war Swedish matches almost
had a monopoly of the market, Belgium, Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and Japan furnishing only small
quantities. I he trade was originally done through
Germany, but was latterly done directly with Sweden.
Persia was a considerable importer. Japan is now
supplying the country with large quantities ol a cheap
but unsatisfactory match.
Coyper was imported from the United Kingdom,
India, Belgium, and France to the extent of about
8,200 bundles, value £45,000 annually. Most of it went
to Baghdad to make cooking utensils. A good deal is
now being imported from Japan.
Leather and Leather Goods. —The import fluctuates
a good deal. France has long been established as the
chief supplier of lea ther at Mosul. I he I nited States,
very successful at Beirut, was gradually extending
her leather supplies over the north. Cheap leather
for common shoes came mainly from India. ( hina
and Singapore sometimes supply buffalo hides for
shoes. The United Kingdom, Belgium, and India did
all the leather trade through Basra in 1009, but since
that date Great Britain has rapidly lost ground. In
1913 leather supplies came from France, Belgium, the
United Kingdom. Austria-Hungary, India, Ger
many, and the United States.
Provisions (tinned meats, &c.) were obtained irom
India, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The aver
age annual value for the six years from 1906 to 1912
was about £75,000; but the general scarcity in 191o
led to an increased import of provisions, viz., £100.000
worth.
Spices are imported wholly from India. The annual
value of the import for some 11 years past has been
about £27.000: there was a fall in 1913 on account of
general trade depression.
Stationery. —The import of stationery, after remain
ing at a uniform level for four vears, rose in 1907 from
£20,000 to £50,000, a figure which it has not attained
since, having kept an average of a little under £40,000.