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'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎78] (93/360)

The record is made up of 1 volume (342 pages). It was created in 1872. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: Printed Collections.

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78
13 AS
amount to from £150,000 to £^00,000 annually. From Bag-lidad g-oods to
the value of from £50,000 to £100,000 are received, while the total exports
amount to £400,600. Basrah besides imports fruit and tobacco from Persia,
indigo, sugar, spices, iron, English and Indian manufactures from various
parts of the Indian Empire, and cofPee and slaves from the Red Sea. A very
small part of these importations is consumed at Basrah; the rest is forwarded
to Baghdad, whither dates and salt are also sent.
All the trade operations of Basrah are undertaken at certain fixed times
regulated by the season and the monsoon. The first dates are gathered in
September and sent to the Red Sea, but as it is utterly impossible to enter
that sea when the north wind prevails, vessels do not attempt to sail till
after the end of January. No vessels depart for India until the south-west
monsoon is nearly over, that is towards the month of October, and in case
of a favourable passage two trips may be made in a season. Vessels enter
ing the Red Sea are detained there until the month of May; meanwhile
they dispose of their cargoes, and purchase new ones. They make but
one voyage, which lasts about a year. Those which sail for Bombay take
care to quit that port before the end of May, for fear of the south-west
monsoon; and they return to Basrah in the middle of summer.
In order to proceed to Baghdad, it is also requisite to watch for a favour
able moment, that is to say, when the waters have attained a sufficient
height; and this rise takes place about the month of June. The vessels
which are to be loaded with merchandise then assemble and form a flotilla
which is called car. When thus collected, the crew and the passengers may
be estimated from one to two thousand, and consequently are enabled to
defend themselves against the marauding Arabs. It is only by accompanying
the car that travellers are able to go with perfect security from one town to
the other, but a great deal of patience is required, as the voyage generally
lasts 40 days. The flotilla starts three times a year at most, but its depar
ture is always regulated by the arrival of ships from Bengal.
Towards the close of the year indigo is gathered in India, at which period
all the vessels of Basrah are at Bombay. The first produce of their mer
chandise is remitted by Jewish or Mahamadan merchants to Calcutta for the
purchase of indigo. These purchases are entrusted to agents in Bengal, who
freight one or two ships, the Captains of which are almost always the same,
and are accustomed to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and by these vessels the indigo is
sent. They leave Bengal in February, and arrive at Basrah about June,
after having touched at Muscat, Bandar Abbas, Bushahr, and Mahamra.
Formerly Basrah manufactured large quantities of rose water, sweetmeats,
and aniseed, which last was distilled in the town. The rose water of Basrah,
for the preparation of which whole fields were set apart, long held a repu
tation of pre-eminent excellence. But now scarcely any vestige of the
manufacture remains. The sweetmeats were mostly made with the peal
of bitter oranges, but pears, apples, and apricots were also preserved. The
distillation of aniseed was principally carried on by Christians and Jews, but
there is very little made of it now.
The climate of Basrah is said to be extremely unhealthy, owing to the
noxious miasma generated by the sun, the overflowing of the river, and the
luxurious vegetation combined. The heat is excessive in the summer, the
thermometer reaches as much as 120° in the shade. At this time all who
can, desert the place, as it is very fatal to life and especially to Europeans.

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Content

Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia.

The book is written by Charles Metcalfe MacGregor.

Publication Details: Calcutta: Foreign Department Press. 1872.

Extent and format
1 volume (342 pages)
Arrangement

The contents in the volume are arranged in chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions: 250 mm x 155 mm.

Pagination: 1-342.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎78] (93/360), British Library: Printed Collections, 010055.d.42/5., in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023897132.0x00005e> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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