Page 265 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

residency and maskat political agency for the YEAR 1000-1001. 113
Tho decline is principally duo to the large stocks of rice remaining on
hand from tho previous year and tho goneral scarcity of money owing to large
unreels of pearls originally bought on credit having remained in Bombay
unsold until late in tho year and the dealers being unablo to pay tho vendors
iu time to allow of their distributing the proceeds amongst tho pearl-divers.
India, whose share of the exports to Bahrein is about three-fifths of the
whole sent goods to the valuo of twenty-one lakhs of rupees less than in 1899.
The decrease is chiefly in rice to tho extent of nineteen lakhs of rupees; cotton,
nicce-^oods, a lakh and-a-half, metals, Its. 3,000; China-ware, Its. 3,000; planks,
Its 3 000; and specie soven aud-a-half lakhs. On the other hand, coffoo shewed
an improvement of Its. 52,000; coir yarn, Its. G,000 ; yarn and twist, Its. 88,000;
lubricating oils, Us. 3,000; raw silk and silk piece-goods, Rs. 19,000; turmeric,
Its. 5,000; soft sugar, Rs. 17,000; tea, Rs.‘1,000; gunny bags, Rs. 3,000; hard*
ware, Rs. 8,000; and cutlery, Rs. 10,000.
The Turkish Empire’s sharo of exports to Bahrein declined six lakhs of
rupees, mainly duo to some of the pearl dealers sending their pearls direct to
Bombay instead of selling them in Bahrein. Grain and specie show a decline
of Its. 15,000 and Rs. 40,000, respectively, and pearls, Rs. 6,80,000; while horses
increased Rs. 15,000; eolfee, Rs. 1,500; dates, Rs. 2,16,000; ghee, Rs. 38,000;
silk and silk goods, Rs. 7,000 ; and tobacco, Rs. 11,000.
There was an advance cf about two lakhs of rupees in the imports from
Persia, owing to a large trade dono in grain on account of tho temporary
suspension ot the embargo on grain by the Government of that country, and
an increase in the export of specie. There was, however, a considerable fall in
the value of cattle, cotton, cutlery, fuel, kerosine, pearls, and provisions.
Zanzibar exported Rs. 19,000 worth of rafters less than in 1S99, owing to
the rigorous regulations imposed by the authorities in German East Africa on
native crafts calling there, and the increase in price in tho article on account
of the Africans being prohibited from selling except through Germans.
The export trade for the past year has declined twenty-five lakhs and twenty Exports,
thousand rupees on the total of 1899. The principal items showing a fall
are—pearls, Rs. 28,50,000 ; rice, Rs. 2,80,000; canvas, Rs. 22,000; cotton piece-
goods, Rs. 44,000; sugar, Its. 6,000; and rafters, Rs. 4,000.
The export of horses increased Rs. 7,000; donkeys, Rs. 85,000; coffee,
Rs. 24,000; dates, Rs. 74,000; wheat and barley, Rs. 98,000; kerosine,
Rs. 16,000; ghee, Rs. 6,000; shells, of all kinds, Rs. 45,000; silk and silk goods,
Its. 7,000; tobacco, Rs. 5,000; tallow, Rs. 2,000; and specie, Rs. 6,61,000.
Coinage,—The Indian Government rupees and the Maria Theresa dollars Miscellaneous,
are the two principal coins in which business is transacted. The latter coin is
universally employed by the Bedouins, and from May to September there is
a considerable demand for it to pay for the pearls imported intoIBahrein, when the
rate for the same fluctuates between Rs. 140 to Rs. 150 per 100 dollars, according
to the demand and supply. During the past year the price fluctuated near the
lower figure owing to the decrease of pearls imported, and consequently there
was a loss demand for the coin.
Freight.—Pearls and dates are the chief products exported to India. The
freight on pearls was half per cent, on the declared value throughout the
year, and on the 700 tons of dates carried by steamers Rs. 12-8 per ton was
charged. Indian and Arab sailing crafts took 1,450 tons of dates and 740 tons
of grain to Karachi at Rs. 10-3 per ton, owing to no space being available in
6teamer bottoms.
For a similar reason, coupled with tho demand for an excessive rate of
freight, tho bulk of shells exported goc9 to Bushire in native crafts, and from
there is shipped by direct steamers to London. This cargo might be secured
by steamers touching here or their way to India and arranging to tranship the
same at Bombay to cheap freighters to London. r
It may he interesting to British shipping to learn that annually, durinir
the last quarter of each year, from 5,000 to 6,000 tons of dates are exported
from Katif and Ojair to Indian ports, and for want of steam conveyance the
whole of it is secured by sailing crafts. A certain quantity is also exported