Page 675 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

RESIPENCY AND MA8KAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOE TTC YEAR 19M-190S. 1SI

Pabt v.—report on the trade and commerce oe
ARABISTAN FOR THE YEAR 1904.
Abstract or Coanumk
General ... ... Cotton goods Public works.
Exchange ... ... Caravan routes ... Public health.
Shipping Agriculture Trade difficulties.
The year was an average one for trade, as though the crops- failed, the
effect of the previous year’s good crop
Gonertd.
remained. The statistics are somewhat
misleading as the averages are affected by imports for Koweit before 1901,
when steamers commenced calling there, and those for this year by the
increased imports for the interior in competition with Bnshire.
Exchange varied from 56 krans early in the year to 59 in October to the
pound sterling at which it remained. The
Exchange. accompanying statistics are calculated at
58 kranB to the £2.
Nineteen steamers with cargo direct from Europe called and five took
cargo for Europe. The British India
Shipping. steamer called weekly from Bombay and
the Bombay Persia occasionally.
Freight to London was 20 to 27 shillings per ton.
The one river steamer ran fortnightly to Bander Nasri (Ahwas) in connec­
tion with the Ahwaz-Shushter steamer. The latter’s running had to be
suspended for about two months owing to insecurity of the country until
guards were provided by the Persian Government,
Freight Mohammerah to Bander Nasir
Krani 40.
thirteen shillings and four pence per ton.
The local trade in cotton goods is chiefly in the hands of Jews, agents to
Manchester firms. The principal demand
Cotton goods.
is fer 8fl> and 9fl> sheeting, prints soft
finish, fancy crimps, printed jaconets, and lappets, from Manchester and some
cheaper qualities from India. Coloured Bombay bed-sheets are taking the
place of Manchester ones, which a few years ago replaced an article made in
the Persian Gulf. Manchester goods in small bales for mule carriage passed
through for the Bakhtiari route to the interior for the first time.
Russian prints were for sale in the market, but there was no demand for
them, they being too narrow and too high in price, the local importers from
Manchester have no fear of Russian competition, but the agent of a Lodz firm
who visited Mohammerah obtained some orders. *
The Ahwaz-Ispaban route through the Bakhtiari hills attracted an increas­
Cirtran routes. Ahwax-IapahaB. ing amount of cargo, especially for Tehran,
there being a saying of time compared
with the Buphire route. 8hould sufficient caravans pass to keep tbe snow
2'65 kran«. beaten down there appears no reason why
this road should be closed in win ter as it
now is. Mule hire averaged one shilling per maund of 13fl> from Abwas to
Ispahan.
The Dizful-Khurremabad road remained closed to cargo by the lawless­
ness of the tribes, tbe post continued to run, but the courier was frequently
stopped and part of his mails robbed.
The Shush ter-Dizful road was also very unsafe, especially during the
summer months, when the Bakhtiiri are in the mountains.
The wheat crop was a failure owing to the failure of the spring rams.
Agri-w. What. fat next yemrpnwpecti ue lad. Bun
tell in November and sowing was