Page 209 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

4,1
RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR 188-1-35.

PART III.
REPORT ON TRADE OF THE PERSIAN GULF FOR 1831.

General Remarks.
Grain.__The year 1881 disappointed the expectations which its opening months tended
to raise as regards trade in South Persia. Unusually large rainfall in the cultivating season
of 1883-84 gave hopes of a splendid harvest, but later in the season unfavourable conditions
of weather caused a partial blight of the grain, which turned out of a harder description than
usual, with a large proportion of shrivelled grains. There occurred, however, no scarcity of
corn, as, besides a surplus of the 18S1 crops available for exportation, a good deal of the 1883
grain had been kept back. That shipments were on a moderate 6calc was due chiefly to the
fall of prices in European markets.
In the early part of 18S1, London prices were good for well-cleaned wheat, but harvests
everywhere having turned out abundant, prices soon began to fall, and a reduction of 20 per cent.
was observable from February to August. In December a rise occurred, aud the year 1833
opened more favourably for the grain trade.
Persian agriculturists have the Inbit of mixing barliy largely with wheat, sometimes to
the proportion of 50 per cent., and as only well-clcaucd wheat was saleable la~l|year in London,
some Persian merchants, who neglected the precaution of sifting, suffered losses. Wheat is
now clcaaed by machinery i:i Bushire. It is remarked that the fluctuations of prices of grain
in European markets do not, to a corresponding extent, influence the local prices in Persia.
The operations of British merchants in exportation of wheat have been !greatly hampered,
and, in fact, when very low prices ruled in London, completely stopped, by levy of export duty
both at the small outports such as Bunder Roeg and Dcc'.am, and also at Bushirc, in addition,
on final exportation. Large quantities of grain are purchaseable at Reegand Dcelam, though
the wheat is said, as a rule, to be inferior in quality to that brought from Dasuti and other
districts to the south.
Opium.—The next most important produce is opium. The crop of last year was consider­
ably damaged by rain, and the yield was under the average and prices in the interior kept
high. Less was consequently shipped to London than usual. The Persian opium is said to be
less adulterated now than formerly, and to be therefore more popular in European and Ameri­
can markets, competing well with Turkish opium. Hostilities in China increased the demand
for Persian opium in that quarter.
Cotton.—The cotton grown in Persia is handicapp>ed as an export by want of cheap
carriage, and cannot be sent to England, but only to the cheaper market of Bombay.
Tobacco.—Tobacco exportation is on the increase, and is of some importance.
Imported goods.—The trade in imported goods was unimproved, and European firms
operated on a smaller scale and for a very small margin of profit Especially was this the case
in copper, sugar, mexicans, yarn, and shirtings. There was in the summer mnch depression in
the piece goods trade, the demand being very small. It is remarkable that trade in chintzes
is increasing in importance. This fact appears to support the opinion of the legation agent
at Ispahan as to the cause of decrease of importation of indigo there, mentioned in Mr. Dickson's
report dated 31st October 1834. Mr. Aganoor stated that whereas the peasantry formerly
wore stout T cloths dyed with indigo, they now used fancy prints, which went to show an
incrcaso of prosperity amongst that class of the population.
Increase of piece goods.—In the same report Mr. Dickson explains that the large increase
in the importation of piece goods and loaf sugar in recent years to Ispahan is not due to an
increase of the trade of Persia generally, but to the diversion of the ebaunel for trade from the
north to the south of Persia, owing to the virtual prohibition on the transit of foreign goods
through Russian territory, and also from the fact that the cheapness of freight and general
facilities of the sea route from Europe to the Persian Gulf have diverted goods from the
Turkish route to Bushire. TL'we best acquainted with the facts state that Russian goods have
nearly disappeared from the markets of Shiraz and Ispahan,
Sugar.—The bounty granted by the French Government on sugar refined in France has
had the effect of supplanting the former trade in soft sugars from Java. Large import*
occur of French beet-root sugar at Bunder Abbass and Bushire. This may be greatly due to
ow prices ruling in Europe and to the prohibitory taxation in the Caucasus. It is, however,