‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎45v] (89/949)

56
REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
Landing, Warehousing, &c.
Steamers anchor some three miles out, and discharge to or load from open
boats. These boats are often overloaded ; and the merchandise, insufficiently
protected by tarpaulins from spray in rough weather, is frequently damaged.
The Customs (March 1903) signs for cargo to the ship, lands, sorts for
examination, and, after clearing, delivers merchandise at the Merchants’ go-
downs according to a tariff scale (Annex D. pp. 80-81) equal to about
kran 1 (4!^.) each on medium bales (180 lbs.). Double rates are charged on
goods transhipped. •
The Customs wharf appears to be too cramped to allow of prompt
manipulation of cargo. There is another wharf, but not used apparently
for Customs work. The Customs warehouse accommodation was inadequate
in March 1903 but an extension was being made.
Some improvement was to be desired in efficiency of the native staff, and
in office equipment, such as weighing machines, &c., to expedite sorting,
clearing, and delivery of merchandise.
The pilfering from goods opened in the Customs House, which used to
be so much complained of, has been much reduced under the Belgian
administration.
Cases of jettison of outward cargo between shore and steamer have
occurred so frequently that the merchandise of Persian subjects can be
insured as a rule only from ship.
Trade Usages, Credits, &c.
The local trade of Bushire is not very important. It supplies the Persian
littoral south towards Lingah, and north towards Bunder Rig and Behbahan.
The bulk of business done is for markets in Shiraz and Ispahan.
The trade with Great Britain is for the most part done through the British
firms established in Bushire. Three-quarters of their sales to local customers
are in sterling, the purchaser taking risk of exchange, and handing approved
sterling bills to the seller at due date, difference of interest for days to run
being calculated at 6 per cent. The greater part of the sterling bills is bank
paper received from correspondents inland, or bought|locally. A part of these
transactions arises from indent business for account of Persian customers and
the bill is accompanied by documents sometimes against payment only, more
frequently against acceptance, and interest is charged at 6 per cent, from
date of payment for the goods in Europe to due date of return remittance.
Sales made in local currency (krans) are usually on credit funning from one
to three months, tea, sugar, matches, metals, &c., which are quickfy realised
being dealt m on shorter terms than cloths, &c., of slow overturn.
The Persian traders in Bushire consign their goods to principals or
partners in Shiraz and to correspondents or agents in Ispahan.
Details of imports and exports are given annually in Bushire Consular
Returns.
Trade Routes.
The only important route is ^^ Borasjun and Kazeroon to Shiraz. The
land route by Ahmadi to Borasjun is little used, as it is considered unsafe on
account of raiders from Tangistan.
The charvadar contracts for conveyance of merchandise between • Bushire
and Shiraz, but takes up or delivers his loads at Shief, and pays boatmen to
effect the transport between Bushire and Shief by sea. The want of regulation
and control over the boatmen, remarked on in regard to cargo to and from
steamers, is equally apparent here, and goods are even more frequently
damaged through overloading and inadequate covering. J
There is no drinking water at Shief, and charvadars have to work from
Knoshab, some 16 miles distant, coming down to Shief to deposit or pick up
loads and returning at once. r r
There are no godowns at Shief, and merchandise is deposited on the open
beach to await charvadars or boatmen, often for days, or even weeks.