Page 447 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

41
RESIDENCY AND SI ASK AT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR J 003-1003.

V.—REPORT ON THE TRADE OF HOHAMMERAH FOR THE
Part
YEAR 1902.
ADSTRACT OF CONTENTS.
General. River Trade.
Exchange. Caravan routes.
Shipping. Agriculture.
Compariron Table Statistic*.
General.
Owing to there being again no export of wheat, trade continued depressed,
especially with regard to imports.from India. Retail prices rose considerably
owing to fall in the price of silver and rise in value of tho rupee.
A difficulty to trade is the system of advances, buyers of produce having
to act as bankers to the cultivators and give advances before the prospects of
harvests arc assured. Goods imported are usually sold on three or six mouths’
credit and paid for in instalments or after the harvests.
Particulars as to various items of exports and imports are given in com­
parison tables attached.
Exchange.
Exchange ranged from 51 to 58 krans to the pound sterling. In annexed
Tables krans 56=£1.
Shipping.
Ocean.—Thirty-two steamers called with cargo from, and ten took cargo for,
Europe. In addition to the steamers of Bucknali’s lines and the Anglo-Arabian
Company, those of the "West Hartlepool Company also called. The two com­
panies running from Bombay called regularly.
Freights to London ranged from 18 to 11 per scale ton.
Biccr.—The one river steamer ran fortnightly to Bunder Nasri (Ahwaz).
The S.S. Shushan crossed the rapids early in March and resumed running on
the Upper Karun.
River Trade.
The river trade, especially by steamer, consists largely of shipments on
through Bills of Lading to and from Ahwaz and Shuster from and to Europe and
India transhipped at Mohammcrah. There was considerable delay to such
cargo during the latter part of the year owing to the Customs claiming to collect
the duty at Alohammerah. A Customs house has now been re-opened at Ahwaz,
aud is to be at Shuster also.
Caravan Routes.
Ahtcaz and Ispahan.—There was a considerable increase in traffic by the
Ahwaz-Ispahnn route, which shows a considerable saving in time against the
Bushi re-Ispahan route. The road is, however, blocked by snow for about four
months in winter.
Bizful and Khoremahad.—The Dizful-ELhoremabad route was closed owing
to the lawlessness of the tribes, even the post for places outsido the Province
being now sent via Bushire.
Shuster and Bizful.—The road between Shuster and Dizful was insecure
at times owing to raids principally by Arabs from the Turkish border, on one
occasion the S.S. Shushan was attacked near Shuster by a gang of such raiders.
Agriculture.
Wheat.—Tho nrheat crop was vory small owing to scarcity of seed, and the
surplus was retained in the grain districts. The prospeots for next harvest are
good, a large area having been sown, and rains having been good. Prices
ranged from 28*. Gd. to 22*. 10d. per maund of 3J cwta.
Bates • —*i ho dates crop was large, about the same as last year; but some
Varieties rafTcred from continued dry winds and dust. Prices ranged from
G*. id to. 4*. per maund of 1-) owts.
w. McDouall,
Bit Britannia Majesty's Vice-Consul,
JJo hammer ah.