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EESIDENCY AND MTJ8CAT POLITICAL AGENCY POE 1888-80. 27

Paet III.—REPORT ON THE TRADE OF SOUTH PERSIA AND
PERSIAN GOLF FOR THE YEAR 1888.

The hopo9 of an abundant harvest entertained at the early part of 1888
were realized, and, on the whole, there was an undoubted improvement ob­
servable in trade at the Persian ports.

Produce.
Large shipments of wheat and barley were made up to October, when the
Persian Government re-imposed an embargo, which,
Grain.
however, was imperfectly maintained. The Persian
wheat raised was of good quality, but the quantity of barley mixed with it
before reaching the market was often excessive, amounting in some cases to
50 per cent. The export trade in wheat was unusually profitable owing to a
certain degree of failure of English and European crop3 which caused a rapid
advance of prices in the Home markets,—10 to 13 per quarter. As this rise
was more slowly felt in Persian markets, early shipments realized handsome
profits. 'Wheat was chiefly shipped to London, but a portion went to India
and the Red Sea. The English and other merchants in Bushire engaged in
the grain exportation trade consider that the imposition of embargo in October
was unnecessary, and complained that this measure unduly crippled and ham­
pered trade, generally to the advantage of the few, who evaded the prohibition
or reaped a profit therefrom in other ways. This alleged evil of constant re­
currence, is, however, a most difficult one to deal with, and it cannot he advan­
tageously discussed in a public report.
At the commencement of 1SS9 the prospects for the current year as re­
gards the grain trade were good; a considerable portion of the last crop
remained in the country, and there was every hope of a good harvest in 1889.
Unfortunately later on, the rainfall was so scanty as to cause a partial failure
of crops, and in April the Persian Government announced a prohibition on the
export of grain owing to scarcity.
The opium crop of Central Persia was an average one. The London
market being stagnant throughout the year, the
Opium,
bulk of the 188S crop was shipped to Hong-Kong,
where in July and August a marked advance in prices occurred, and the early
shipments returned good profits. Later in the year large shipments of the
drug from India lowered prices in China.

The export trade of tobacco seems to suffer check
Tobacco.
from fall in prices in Syria.
It is well known how the recent wars in the Soudan and isolation of those
tracts have affected the supply of gum. The
Gam.
effects of this are now being felt in Persia, where
gum is now being extensively collected from the wild almond, “gavan,” and
other shrubs and trees, and measures are being taken to prevent the whole­
sale destruction of such woods. Firewood and charcoal are consequently
expected to become scarcer and dearer in Persia, and Bushire has received some
supplies of the latter article from Karachi of late.
It