Page 105 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT POLITICAL AQENOY POE 1891-91 49

Part V.—REPORT ON THE TRADE OP MOHAMMERAH FOR THE
TEAR 1891.

Trade.
During 1891 there was an increase of shipments of wheat from Moham-
merah; but a large amount of the Karun produce was conveyed to Bussorah
(wheat, barley, and wool) of which no account is obtainable.
The oil-seed crop appears to have been exported by the Jerrahi river.
By native craft a large amount of dates were exported to India and about
a hundred tons were packed in boxes and sent to Bussorah. Only statistics of
articles imported and exported by vessels under the British flag are obtainable;
in addition some seven hundred cices of Batoum kerosine oil came from Bussorah
by “hUlam” (canoe), and some miscellaneous articles for petty traders by
coasting boats from Bushire.
In October the Persian Government arranged that goods imported by sea­
going steamers should be transhipped to the river steamers in bond and arrange­
ments have been made for issue of through bills of lading to the ports on the
Karun by the companies whose steamers call at Mohammerrah.
Of the imports about one quarter is consumed locally; the remainder is
about equally divided between Bizful (with places beyond) by caravan, Shustar
by steamer, and Koweit by native coasting craft.
The town contains about two hundred and fifty shops of all sorts, of which
tho average monthly consumption is as follows

Kluzislan Product,
9. d.
Bice, 71 tons at . . . 5 6 ^ a hundredweight.
Wheat, 15 tons at • . 4 6
Tobacco 71 cwt.
Silk cloth, 500 yards at • 1 11 a yard.
Linen for women's head-dres3; 2,000 yards at . 5 3 per 7 yards.
Lzportcd Ootid*,
Piece goods 60 hales. These 2re chiefly cheap kinds of Manchester shirting selling
at about 6*. 8d, a piece, and chintzes at 7*. 3d. and kerchiefs for Arab head-dress.
£ i A
French loaf sugar, 12 cases at . 1 13 4 a case.
Batoum oil, 60 cases at • - 0 3 0}
The exports of specie are large and no business in hills is done locally;
there is therefore no rate of exchange with Great Britain. The accompanying
returns are calculated at 36 krans to the pound sterling.
The Indian rupee is current at two-and-a-half krans, and the Turkish
lira at rates varying from thirty-and-a-half to thirty-three krans.
Tables of principal articles of import and exp cat are attached.

8hiphng.
The British India 8team Navigation Company’s steamers called weekly
with mails and cargo, both on the way up and down the Shat-el-Arab. The
Bombay and Persian Gulf 8team Navigation Company’s steamers called on