'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎25] (40/1050)

ADEN
25
guarantee the safety of the caravans. Hides are the principal export from Dala',
and sharks' fins from the coast towns. Honey is largely exported from Yashbnm,
and frankincense, gum, and attar of roses from the Hadhramaut.
Breech-loading rifles are freely imported, large numbers coming via Ras-al-'Ara. The
Jews are the chief artificers, and produce silver-work, dagger sheaths, etc. Some rough
blacksmith's work, weaving (by Jews only), dyeing, matting, and carpentering, are
also done. Gunpowder is manufactured by the Jews and Arabs who also mould their
own bullets to a large extent.
Livestock. —Camels are the universal beast of burde&it hroughout the country. Com
pared with those of central Arabia, they are of an inferior stamp, and can only carry
loads of from 300 to 400 lbs. They are not very plentiful, and itwou'd be difficult to
collect at short notice more than 1,500 camels at any centre in the Protectorate.
Horses are very scarce, but donkeys, of a small, strong breed, are fairly numerous.
Cattle, including plough and slaughter oxen, and milch-cows, are plentiful, and sheep
and goats are very numerous. Chickens are obtainable practically everywhere, but
are sold only by the Jews.
Coinage. —In the port of Aden the medium of circulation is the rupee. Throughout
the Protectorate, however, the coin most in use is the Austrian Maria Theresa dollar,
or real, the value of which in Dala is from one rupee four annas to one rupee eight annas.
The standard coinage of India is also current. Amongst the Arabs the four-anna piece
known as Baola, being a corruption of the word paola.
Trade and Navigation Report for 1915-16.
The report on the Trade and Navigation of the port of Aden for the year ending 31st
March 1916, states : —
2. The total trade of the Port of Aden for the year under review shows an increase
of £420,590. Merchandise inrcreased by £710,587 but Treasure decreased by
£289,997.
3. Foreign trade increased from £5,162,470 to £5,626,658. Indian trade from
£1,519,155 to £1,575,256 but land trade decreased from £257,984 to £158,285.
Foreign trade increased in merchandise by £684,740 but decreased in
treasure by £220,552. Indian trade increased in merchandsie by £123,813
but decreased in treasure by £67,712. Land trade decreased in merchandise
by £97,966 and in treasure by £1,733.
4. Government Stores and Government tressure amounted to (approximate 1 y)
£135162 as against £123 981 the year previous, showing an increase of £11,181.
These figures cannot be considered as even approximately correct, and are far
below the actuals, as the value for Government stores cannot be obtained,
though the number of packages are furnished but without the necessary details.
5. The trade of Aden is divided into three main divisions—Foreign, Indian and
land.
6. The principal increases in the general trade were in cotton piece-goods, grey
especially ; cotton twist and yarns ; skins, raw ; coffee ; tea ; gums and resins,
spices ; oil, kerosine, which increased in both quantity and value ; sugar which
increased in value but decreased in quantity ; and similarly with coal. The
important items which show decreases are—hides, raw ; garain and pulse ; to
bacco, unmanufactured ; metals ; shells ; wax ; seeds ; salt; wood and artilces
per post.
The grand total of the sea-borne trade of imports and exports combined amounted
to £7,201,914 as compared with £6,681,625 the year previous, showing an increase of
£520,289 or 7*79 per cent. Imports of foreign merchandise amounted to £2,380,503
as against £2,084,158 the year before, showing in increase of £296,345 or 14*21
per cent. Imports of Indian merchandise increased from £1,043,494 to £1,115,536 or
by £76,042 or 7*27 per cent. Exports of foreign mechandise amounted to £2,839,301
as against £2,450,906, showing an increase of £388,395 or 15*84 per cent. Exports of
Indian merchandise increased from £157,059 to £204,830 or by £47,771 or 30.41 per cent.
Imports of foreign treasure decreased in gold by £45,629 and in silver by £66,800. Imports
of Indian treasure c'ecraased in silver by £29,655. Exports of foreign treasure increased
in gold by £3,215 but decreased in silver by £111,338. Exports of Indian treasure
decreased in gold by £48,770 but increased in silver by £10.713,
C52(w)GSB ^ e