Page 11 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

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Donkey transport being very scarce throughout the year enabled
the muleteers to hold out for higher rates, but the illegal exactions
imposed on the muleteers by the road guards and the tolls levied
by the Governor-General of Fars, against all instructions from the
central administration in Teheran, were also responsible for the
abnormally high rates.
Taken below are a few of the articles which are imported from Import*.
India, showing the increased percentage paid as import duty under
the present tariff as against the old 5 per cent, ad valorem duty:—
Rice, imported in bags of about 165 lbs. each or 25} batmans, Rio*,
value 7 rs. each, 100 bags at 7 rs. equals 700 rs., duty 5 per cent.
ad valorem equals 35 rs.; 100 bags at 25} batmans each equals
2,550 batmans, present rate of duty 2 shahis per batman equals
255 krans, at 4 krans per rupee equals 63*75 rs. or 9*11 per cent.
This duty is now beginning to be felt, but although it is bad for
the importer it is good for the producer in Persia, as rice grown in
the country is being more generally used, and its cultivation is
accordingly increasing.
Calcutta tea, costing 4 a. per lb. in India under the new tariff, Tea.
levied at the rate of 6 krans per batman of 6} lbs., has to pay as
near as possible 92} per cent. Notwithstanding this there has been
a considerable increase in the import of tea during the year both
from India and Batavia, but Russia shows a decrease of some
5,OOOZ. odd. Still, tea is being extensively smuggled into the
country. _
Spices are only imported from India, with a little from China, spice*.
Market prices of pepper and cinnamon 4} a. per lb. with duty at Pepper and
1} krans per batman of 6} lbs., equals a little over 20 per cent. cuuamo*.
Dry ginger.
Dry ginger pays 15 per cent.
Turmeric costing 2} a. per lb. and a duty at 1} krans per batman Turmeric,
of 6} lbs. pays 37 per cent.
The import of the above articles (except tea), as shown in the
custom-house returns, is steadily decreasing year by year, which is
attributed to smuggling.
Gunny bags are imported for the purpose of exporting Persian Gunny b*g«.
produce, such as wheat, barley, gum, dry fruit, &c. They cost
roughly 5 a. each, therefore duty at } kran per batman works out
at nearly 14 per cent., which the merchant considers exceedingly
hard on him seeing, as above stated, they are only brought into
the country to be exported again with produce of the country, and
he claims that a transit duty would be fairer.
Coming to other articles imported which show a marked decrease
we find as follows :—Iron, tin, copper, gold and silver, and manu­
factures of these show a total decrease of 100,0001. This is due to
two reasons, firstly, the markets were over-stocked, and secondly,
during the whole year prices were so abnormally high that buyers
who required to replenish their stocks preferred merely filling actual
requirements by small lots from time to time from Bombay
ordering large shipments from Furope.
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