'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎552v] (1106/1386)

44
Trans-Frontier Trade.
The trade of the last five years was, in rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. (ooo’s omitted):
Imports.
Exports. Total.
1885-86
• 36,187
55,849 92.036
1886-87
• 37,723
56,505 94,228
1887-88
• 41,709
50,209 91,918
1888-89
. 42,261
46,967 89,228
1889-90
•
• 37-377
51,137 88,514
The trade has undergone
therefore
a continuous decline during the last
four years, and, though the decrease last year was trifling, it is unsatisfactory
that the figures of the year should be six per cent smaller than they were four
years previously, with an uninterrupted decline each year. It will be observed
that the decrease occurred in the import trade alone, our exports having
increased materially. A portion of the decline in the imports of the year can,
however, be accounted for without any reference to the condition of trade. In
1888-89 Kashmir Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). remitted a large sum of money to India, in connec
tion with the construction of the Jamu railway line, and much less treasure was
brought from the State last year. The difference accounts for nearly half of
the whole decrease in the import trade. The remainder is accounted for by a
heavy decline in the imports of teak brought down the Salween from Karenni and
Zimme. This, it is stated, was largely due to the haste of the traders to get down
to the registering post at Kado before the end of March 1889 all the timber they
possibly could in order to escape payment of the enhanced duty of 7 per cent
which was levied with effect from the beginning of the year under review.
The figures of treasure are so entirely untrustworthy that it will be best to
confine the review of this trade to articles of merchandise only.
The value of these for the last three years is as follows, in rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. (ooo’s
omitted) ;
Imports.
Exports.
Total.
1887-88 .
. 37,126
47,780
84,906
1888-89 .
• 37,15+
44,801
81,955
1889-90 .
• 35,053
49,305
84,358
Taking the imports and exports by countries, the following table gives the
value of the trade carried on with each principal country (ooo’s omitted) :
(Merchandise only}.
1887-88. 1888-8. 1889.90.
imports.
Exports.
imports.
Exports.
imports.
Exports.
Lus Bela . . .
474
285
442
242
328
291
Khelat . .
• • 538
438
500
396
399
355
Sind-Peshin Railway (Southern
Afghanistan) .
. . 2,662
20,779
3,455
19,344
2,997
17,640
Sewestan . •
434
672
521
689
640
754
Kabul
• • 2,375
5,749
1,873
5,268
3,253
7,965
Bajaur
393
576 ‘
342
491
757
897
Kashmir . .
• 5.373
5>258
5.023
4,856
5,787
5,638
Ladakh
• 335
317
286
299
245
223
Thibet .
• 732
503
904
462
1,014
401
Nepal . . .
. . 16,440
11,201
13,881
11,009
14,889
11,583
Karenni
. 3,471
324
5,226
197
762
349
Shan States
. 251
485
190
277
853
1,192
Zimm
. • 2,403
245
3,243
400
1,468
426
Siam . ,
’ • 259
263
259
243
499
349