Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎30r] (59/252)

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NOTES ON COMMERCIAL CENTRES, &C,
Landing, Warehousing, &c.
The anchorage is quite a mile out, and cargo is landed and embarked as
at Bunder Abbas. Cargo in transit can be landed and retained in Customs
warehouse for a month or six weeks and re-exported without payment
of duty.
Trade Usages, Credits, &c.
There is very little inland business. Imports are chiefly cotton textiles,
and grain, fruit, and other provisions for local consumption. There is a
small trade with Lar, from which some consignments of tombac are exported
to Aden and Turkey. The place is really important as an emporium for
the coast towns and fishing fleets on both shores of the Gulf.
Sailing craft from the Pirate Coast and the fishing ground of the lower
part of the Gulf can usually make a fair course on the prevailing wind both
to and from Lingah. They therefore run in there for stores of all sorts, for
which they pay in pearls, shells, and rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
The Persian Government did not appear to realise the peculiar position
of Lingah in this respect, and the Customs for some time showed a
disposition to bring merchandise landed in transit under the operation of
its tariff, which would have driven trade elsewhere. Bahrein lies too far
up the Gulf to gain much advantage, but there. is little doubt that if the
British possession of Basidu (Bassidore) had possessed a water-supply and
landing and warehousing facilities trade would have been rapidly transferred
to it. The Persian Government has, however, apparently reconsidered the
matter, and is now disposed to treat the transit trade of Lingah on former
lines.
The small business in mother-of-pearl, mussel and oyster shells might
be considerably developed if arrangements could be made to carry supplies
to the fishing fleets at their stations and receive the shells from the boats,
which at present can carry to market only the take of the last few days
before running to port.
Pearls all go to India, generally by British India mail steamers.
The Customs formerly charged a J per cent, ad valorem duty on pearls
exported from Lingah, and it now appears likely that they will continue to
adhere to this scale.
No telegraphic comrfiunication with Lingah exists.
Trade routes.
To Lar, but of little importance.
Bushire.
Population 20,000 to 25,000. The Customs Returns for 1901-02 and
1902-03 give the following figures as values of imports and exports :—
1901-02.
1902-03.
Imports*
Exports
. 795,000
333 ,ooo
The British India Mail Service and local service steamers call weekly
outward and inward.
Steamers of all other Gulf lines also call.
* Excluding bar silver for the Mint.