Page 500 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

82 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

Pabt IH-REPORT ON THE TRADE OP SOUTH PERSIA FOR
THE TEAR 1887.

Owiog mainly to great dearness of grain in South Persia, the year 1887 oponed with trade
in a state of stagnation. The rainfoll in the autumn of 1886 and spring of 1887 was unusually
scanty (about 5J inches at Bushire), and the grain harvest of 1887 was consequently short and
inadequate, the prices of wheat rising to krans 14 pa 124 pounds, and of barley to 12 krans
for the same quantity. This led to the regular importation of wheat, barley, and flour from India.
In these circumstances trade in all articles of import and export was dull and unremunerative
during the first-half of the year. A native firm of some importance in Shiraz having stopped
payment, it was feared that many smaller merchants, already weakened by the depressed state of
trade, would become bankrupt. Fortunately, however, at this juncture, matters took a
more favourable turn, and .the increase in prices of opium helped to avert further misfortune.
The diminished amount of importations of piece-gocda, sugar, &o., doubtless caused favourable
fluctuations in the native markets, and the latter part of the year was more satisfactory to
merchants than anticipated. Probably this docs not imply 60 much a material increase
of profits as a saving of losses, owing to reduced and more cautious operations, but towards the
end of the year considerable sales of Manchester goodi were made at improved prices. The year
1888 opened with much more hopeful prospects* ia every way, a good and seasonable rainfall
justifying expectations of an abundant harvest this year.

ExjjotU.
The opium crop was one of the smallest rawded for several years, and owing to a brisk
demand it the European and China markets prices increased
Opium.
considerably, the results to those engaged in this trade being
highly satisfactory, end proving the saving of several Persian merchants. The adulteration
of Persian opium, formerly extensively practised, has now greatly decreased, and when lots are
rejected it is probably from lack of skill in the manipulation or other causes.
The tobacco crop was fairly large. This cultivation is gradually increasing, but hitherto
a large proportion (aearly one-third it is said^ of the crops is
Tobacco.
spoiled by early raios and bad weather. To avoid this serious
loss the cultivators are having recourse to early sowings with some success, the crops
being gathered at a correspondingly earlier season.
The grain crops in South Persia, as wbD ax in Turkish Arabia, having been so scanty,
prices remained very high, the interdict on exportation of
Cereal*.
gcain was kept on, and, as before mentioned, supplies were
imported from India to Persia. So /far as the chief ports were concerned, the embargo
was observed, bat the petty ebiefr of dutoritfte north of Bashire found it to their ioterest to
prevent the cultivators of their Si&raids fetca rending their wheat and barley to the Basbire
market, and compelled theca tc ore B»m&sr Reegv whence quantities of the grain were shipped
to Basrah and other porta. This* e£ coarse, enhanced the scarcity and dearness of grain
generally.
The cotton crop in South Persia was comparatively large
CcttOB. xavi prices higher than for some time past, owing to a good
i&amBiii in flowbay.

Imports,
The returns show again a decrease in the import of these goods, but an improvement set
in during the latter months of the year, which is expected to
continue and strengthen during the current year.
A decline ia also visible in the importation of loaf sugar. This is understood to be due
to two causes—firstly, the large losses sustained on shipments
in previous years ; and, secondly, large arrivals of sugar from
Russia, which reached as far as Ispahan, a market hitherto supplied from Boshire. The
competition between English and Mauritius sogars on the one hand, and Russian and
other beet sugars on the other, may posdUy he affected by the abolition of bounties, if
the measures contemplated are observed as regards Persia. Large losses were experienced in