Page 361 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

RESIDENCY AND MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 190M90S. 77

Part V.—REPORT ON THE TRADE OF MO HAMMER All FOR THE
YEAR 1901.
ABSTRACT OF CONTENTS.
General. Caravan routes.
Exchange. Agriculture.
Exports. Health.
Imports. River trade.
Shipping. Statistics.
General.—Owing to the failure of crops, trade wa3 generally depressed.
Exchange.—Exchange ranged from 51 to 55 brans to the £ sterling, the
accompanying statistics are calculated at 63 kraus to £1.
Exports.—The returns only show export of dales by steamers and coasting dm**.
craft under British (Indian) flag.
■
The increase shown in gum and oil-seeds is chiefly from the 1900 crop.
Imports.—There was generally a decrease in imports chiefly due to the .
famine, but partly owing to Bombay steamers calling at Koweit during the last
six months of the year. 1
In addition to the figures given in the annexed tables there was a large rood
import of wheat and rice by river boats and coasting craft.
There was a certain demand for rice for the Hawizeh district owing to the
shortness of the crop there, due to lowness of the rivers. Hawizeh usually
exports rice. The town markets were well supplied with imported food stulfs.
There was a large increase in the import of coffee, but this article is chiefly
for rc-shipuicnfc to Koweit.
The incrcaso in Russian kerodne oil is due to Indian sailing boats bringing Kerosine.
• this article up for sale when coming to buy dates. Prices in consequence
dropped from ten shillings to four shillings per case.
The trade in Manchester goods shared the general depression, but at end of cotton «cod*.
December there was a slight revival and increase in demand for Shuster.
The- principal cotton goods in demaud and prices are as given last year.
Shaping.—Twenty steamers called with cargo from and eight took cargo
for Europe. The vessels of the two Bombay Companies called regularly.
Returns of sailing craft under foreign flag are not obtainable.
Freight to London ranged from £1-2 G to .€1-12-6. To Marseilles £1-7-6 rr®uht.
to €1-17-6, and to Bombay from 88. to 18*. 8d.
The Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation Company’s steamer ran fort-
niglitly to Bunder Nasri. The steamer running on the upper river was brought
down to dock at the end of 1900, qnd owing to the lowness of the river W08
unable to re-cross the rapids after repairs. Cargo was conveyed from Ahwaz to
Shuster by lighter. The water was never more than 8 feet above and sank
to 2 feet lxdow previous lowest level at Nasri. Freight from Moharamerah to
«asri is about 8*., 12*. and 15*. according to description of goods.
Caravan routes.—There was a small increase in trado by this route, Ahwai-Iapahaa.
‘•specially in opium. Owing to the great scarcity of fodder many of the local
mules were taken to other districts to feed, and the Ispahan muleteers cannot
he induced to take cargo by a route on which their villages are not situated.
Caravans with opium have done the distance in 15 days, but usually caravans
take 20 day9 from Ispahan to Ahwaz.
The caravan route from Dizful to Khoremabad was practically olosed »«**a!-xh oreoa-
turough the year owing to lawlessness of the tribes.
spring croP was a *a**urc ow*n6 to tb° absence of
Prices at Nasri rose to 32*. per maund of 3J cwt*.
Krana lOO,^
It