‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎30v] (59/949)

26
REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
Number in
Table of
Statistics.
26
37
The Russian line of steamers to the Gulf have entered into
competition, and reduced ,the price. Kerman and Shiraz are
supplied from the Gulf, but the country in general gets its
supplies from the Caspian. Quite half of the quantities imported
arrive in barrels at Enzeli, where the kerosine is canned and packed
in wooden cases for transport inland.. The sheet iron and tin for
the cases is obtained from Baku. Prices have nearly doubled in
Baku since last summer, and the cost of kerosine delivered at
Enzeli is now about 33 copecks perpoud. Average price, leneran,
krs. 3 to krs. 3^ per Shah man ; in November 1903, krs. 4.
Opium.
One of the most important exports from Persia. The principal
markets are Ispahan, Shiraz, Yezd, Hamadan (from Nahavend
and Burujird), and Meshed. It it exported to China, Britain, and
America ; its value in the two latter countries depending on the
percentages of morphia. In Ispahan the crop occupies the ground
from November to June, after which the ground can be used for
some other autumn crop. Opium is an expensive and somewhat
precarious crop to grow, needing much labour, manure, and irri
gation, and is frequently damaged by hail or rain, whilst the price
is subject to wide fluctuations, being entirely dependent on the
China and London markets. It is said to be often grown only
because it can be readily disposed of for cash to meet rent and
taxes, and not for the superior profit compared with other crops.
Three mans of raw opium will produce about 2 mans of prepared
opium. The cost of preparing 12| Shah mans is about krs. 60,
and the price of prepared opium in September 1903 was krs. 120
to krs. 125 per Tab. man (about 6s. \od. per lb.). It is exported in
tin-lined cases containing 140J- lbs. net (for China). The charges
from Ispahan to Bushire are about krs. 40 per case (14s. 6d.) t and
by direct steamers, Bushire to Hong Kong, Rs. 20 per case,
including Rs. 5 for transhipment at Bombay ; Bushire to London,
35s. per case. The export duty is about krs. 430 (7/. 6s.) per case.
Opium is an article which lends itself readily to adulteration.
The substance most frequently added is a native resin (gunjideh).
So largely has this resin been used that its price has risen from
krs. 5 to krs. 30 per Shah man. The heavy export duty now
levied on opium will tend to lessen adulteration. Orders have
been received from China for consignments of the resin gunjideh,
presumably for purposes of adulteration at that end. The annual
production of opium is estimated roughly at 7,000 cases, of
which about 2,000 are consumed in the country. For home con
sumption the opium is worked into sticks, not cakes. Hamadan
accounts for 500 cases, Kermanshah 150 to 200, and Meshed
for 500 cases, the remainder coming from the central provinces
of Ispahan, Shiraz, and Yezd, and also the Burujird district.
This estimate, at least, agrees with the statistics for 1902-03, which
show an export of a little over 5) 000 cases.
It is not generally thought that the increase of export duty
(from 5 to about 14 per cent, ad 'valorem ) will restrict the
cultivation of this drug, which has been produced in past years
under very wide fluctuations of price. It is regretted, however,
by thoughtful persons that the tax has not been made to fall on
the growing consumption of the drug in the country instead of on
its export.
Packing Materials.
Gunny-bags from India are imported in large quantities for
grain, gum, and almond exports, and, in Ispahan, for cotton.
Used bags in which grain and rice have been imported are also
brought in considerable quantities from the Arab coast and
Bahrein, and these are sold in Bushire at low prices.