Page 66 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

PART III—CHAPTER X!V.
48

The principal exports and imports of Lingah for the last 10 years are shown
in appendices G (3) and (4).
This rapid growth of the commerce of Lingah has been due more to its
importance as a port of transit for the trade with the Arab Coast and the Island
of Bahrein, than as an convenient centre for distribution of imports into the
interior of Persia or attracting the internal trade of the country. By far the
largest quantity of Lingahs’ trade, after India, is with the Arab coast and Bahrein
put together, and a great quantity of this is absorbed by the import and export
of pearls received mainly from the Arab Coast and Bahrein. The average
annual imports to Lingah of pearls for the five years 1898—1902 were estimated
at Rs. 27,46,650, which in 1903 increased to Rs. 49,05,000 and in 1904. decreased
to Rs. s.SS^o, while the exports of pearls in those years were estimated at
Rs. 2,15,000; Rs. 49,05,000 and Rs. 6,23,800, respectively. For the annual
average of exports and imports of Lingah in 1894—1903 to and from the
Arab Coast. Rs. 32,48,258 and Rs. 39,28,372 we find in 1903 —and
£ 3.17.181 and in 1904 £ too o?q and £ 47.H7 respectively. To take the figures
•r Ki, or R« 10,45,115 or IU. 7,11.155
of the Arab Coast we find the average of exports from thence to the Persian
ports (the principal of which is Lingah) in 1894—1903, Rs. 68,51,367
dropping to in 1903 and £ 76,672 in 1904 and the average of imports in
1894—1903, Rs. 30,58,087 to £ HS.755 in 1903 and or Kt. 41.05.530 in 1904.
£ 8*.711
or Rs.
On the contrary the average of exports from the Arab Coast to India in
1894—1903, Rs. 17,03,000 rises to £ •40,000 in 1903 and ^7^ in 1904; and
i'». 51,00.01.0
the imports from Rs. 12,17,121 to in 1903 and in 1904, while the
average of exports and imports from 1874 to 1883 was only Rs. 6,12,581 and
Rs. 3,64,967 and from 1884 to 1893 only Rs. 5,935 and Rs. 4,42,852, respec­
tively. The recent increase of direct trade between the Arab Coast and India
and the decrease of the trade between the Arab Ccast and Lingah as also other
Persian ports is a phenomena very interesting to note, if only to show its con­
nection with the introduction of stringent customs regulations in the Persian
ports and the greater facilities afforded for direct traffic with India. The figures
in the above statement also show a falling off in the total trade of Lingah in'
1904.
The total quantity of exports from Lingah have for the last 30 years been
as a rule somewhat less than its imports, including on both sides the specie
and bullion the trade in which stands as follows since 1898.

Average for 5
Specie. years *903. 1904. 1905.
1898—1902.

Rj.. Rs. Ri.
Exports • •• 20,60,000 29,03.270 14,18,286
Imports I3.79.6S4 18,38,671 9.20.638

Trade of Bandar Abbas.
The port of Bandar Abbas was the seat of the largest East India Company’s
factory in the Persian Gulf until the year 1763. The Agency in Council for
Persia and the Persian Gulf was then shifted to Basrah, where it was abolished
in a few years. Bushire took the place of Bandar Abbas entrepot of British com*
mercial intercourse with Persia. The trade of Bandar Abbas became then extinct.
In the report* on the commerce of Arabia
• Appendix F. to the selection*, 1600—1800.
and Persia drawn up by Samuel Manesty
and Harford Jones in 179°, it is stated “ Its present exports are confined to a
small quantity of dried and wet fruits and tobacco to the port of Muscat, from
whence it imports rice, coffee, coarse and Bengal and Surat goods sufficient

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