Page 19 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

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BUSHIRE RESIDENCY FOR 1873-74. 11
On the Arabian Coast trade is almost exclusively in the hands of the
Hindoo and Khojah communities.
In Persia the merchants who have acquired great wealth are few,
and with increased competition the number would scarcely increase.
The famine of 1871 caused the failure of many cloth merchants of
Bushire.
Trade between the Persian Gulf and India.—In previous reports
statements drawn up from the records of the Custom Houses of Cal­
cutta, Bombay, and Sind have been submitted showing the value of the
import and export trade between those parts and the Persian Gulf.
The latest of these was for the year 1868-69.
Through the courtesy of the Collectors of Customs at the above
Indian ports I have received similar information for the year 1869-70
to 1S72-73 inclusive.
This information is exhibited in the annexed Tables marked A., B., C.

It must be borne in mind that the figures include the trade with
Muscat.

Calcutta in former years drew large supplies of salt from the
south coast of Persia through Muscat. This trade appears to have
decreased from causes which it is probable are well known to the Depart­
ment of Revenue and Commerce. The aggregate imports to Calcutta
have decreased nearly by one-half in four years.

The exports from Calcutta to the Gulf have kept tolerably steady
for the same period and show latterly a slight increase. The chief
articles being grain, indigo, silk, raw and manufactured.

The Bombay trade with the Persian Gulf import and export has
steadily decreased for four years. The same remark applies to the trade
with Sind.
Taking the aggregate of the three ports the total
Imports from the Gulf for 1869-70 are ... ... Rs. 1,38,88,437
Exports • •• • • • „ 1,38,25,373

The equality being remarkable. For the year 1872-73 the figures
are—
Imports from Gulf • •• ... Rs. 86,68,673
Exports • •I ... „ 1,28,75,698
The produce of Persia in Oman being less in the latter year.

The total value of the trade between these three ports of India and
the Gulf was—

For 1869-70 ... • •• ... Rs. 2,77,13,810
1872-73 • •• • •• • • % ... „ 2,14,44,721
Decrease • •• • •• • •% 99 62,69,089