‘Administration Report on the Persian Gulf Political Residency and Maskat Political Agency for 1895-96’ [‎265r] (24/92)

eesidency and maska.t political agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. foe the tear 1895-96. 17
Part III.
Beport on the trade and commerce of the consular district of Bushire for the year 1895.
\Jt
The year 1895 unfortunately lias not continued the improvement in trade
which was begun in 1894, there being a falling off in imports of over 24 and
in exports of over 6 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
The chief causes of this falling off were the depreciation of the kran
(during the greater part of the year) both in relation to the pound sterling and to
the rupee, large accumulations of stock of the previous year which failed to go
off, locusts, high rates of transport, the general poverty throughout the Shiraz
district caused by repeated bad years, and in the case of some exports, the fall
in market prices.
Amono- the imports an increase is shown in the case of arms and ammuni
tion candles, cotton goods, iron and kerosine-oil and a decrease in glassware,
gold' lace, indigo, copper, chinaware, sugar, tea, and woollen goods.
In exports there is an increase in the case of dates, almonds, wheat, rose-
water, shells, tobacco and carpets, and a decrease in horses, arms, cotton, gum,
hides and skins, opium, silk, and wool.
Details in each case are given below.
Durino- the year the Clan line of steamers discontinued running and two new
lines commenced— the British and Colonial and the Messageries Maritimes. This
latter line, which is Erench, is running entirely under orders of the French Gov-
renment and the company are not even attempting, seemingly, to make it pay
commercially. Freights have not been affected and continued steady throughout
the year ranging from 225. Qd. to 21s.
A feature in the freight market was the change of the tonnage scale for
bagged wheat, from 20 cwt. to 18 cwt. per ton.
0 A German firm, Job Werth & Co., tried to start business in Bushire, but
their methods seems not to have recommended themselves to the Persians and
their venture has resulted in the bankruptcy of the firm and a strong prejudice
against Germans among the Persian merchants here.
Though 1895 cannot be considered even a fairly good year the prospects
of 1896 are verv much worse, and there seems every likelihood of its being one
of the worst years on record. It opened badly and continued worse and most
of the firms here tell me that there is nearly literally nothing doing.
Imports.
Arms and aTheoretically this trade is prohibited by the Per
sian Government, but like all similar prohibitions in Persia, this practically
only substitutes an arbitrary impost for a fixed duty, and the large increase m
the yalues shown are mainly due to higher yaluation caused by the raising ot
this import by the local authorities, though there was also a slightly increased
demand in Dashti and Dashtistan.
Candtes.—Theve was a greater'demand for candles in Shiraz and Ispahan
and the imports consequently slightly increased.
Pnffon /mods —In spit© of a certain amount of accumulation at the end
of las ty ear owing to dearness of transport, the low prices in Manchester led to
lar-e imports of cotton goods during the year, and the large advance recorded
last year has been still further increased this year by oyer 7 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
Covver and iron.— Owing to the scarcity in Shiraz and dear exchange the
imports of copper fell ofi by 3J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , hut iron showed a small
^ainaware.—Tbemarket was dull and the imports fell off by rather more
than f of a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees .