Page 311 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

besidbncy AND MA8KA.T POLITICAL AGENCY POE THE YEAR 1895-96. 17

Part III.
ort on tie trade and commerce of Utcontular dittrict of Buihxre for tie year 1895.
Rtp

T1 o voar 1895 unfortunately has not continued the improvement in trade
. / wag begun in 1894., there* being a falling off in imports of over 24 and
in exports of over G lakbs of rupeea.
The chief causes of this falling off were the depreciation of the bran
.. • greater part of the year) both m relation to the pound sterling and to
the rupee, large accumulations of stock of the previous year which failed to go
ff locusts, high rates of transport, the general poverty throughout the Shiran
district caused by repeated bad years, and in the case of some exports, the fall
in market prices.
Among the imports an increase is shown in the case of arms and ammuni­
tion, candles, cotton goods, iron and kerosine-oil and a decrease in glassware,
gold* lace, indigo, copper, china ware, sugar, tea, and woollen goods.
In exports there is an increase in the case of dates, almonds, wheat, rose­
water, shells, tobacco and carpets, and a decrease in horses, arms, cotton, gum,
hides and skins, opium, silk, and wool.
Details in each case are given below.
During the year the Clan line of steamers discontinued running and two new
lines commenced’—the British and Colonial and the Messageries Maritimes. This
latter line, which is French, is running entirely under orders of the French Gov-
renmentand the company are not even attempting, seemingly, to make it pay
commercially. Freights have aot been affected and continued steady throughout
the year ranging from 228. 6d. to 21$.
A feature in the freight market was the change of the tonnage scale for
bagged wheat, from 20 cwt. to 13 cwt. per ton.
A German firm, Job TVerth & Co., tried to start business in Bushire, but
their methods seems not to have recommended themselves to the Persians and
their venture has resulted in the bankruptcy of the firm and a strong prejudice
against Germans among the Persian merchants here.
Though 1S95 cannot he considered even a fairly good year the prospects
of 1896 are very much worse, and there seems every likelihood of its being one
of the worst years on record. It opened badly and continued worse and most
of the firms here tell me that there is nearly literally nothing doing.
Imports.
Arms and atnujunifion.—Theoretically this trade is prohibited by the Per­
sian Government, but like all similar prohibitions in Persia, this practically
only substitutes an arbitrary impost for a fixed duty, and the large increase in
the values shown are mainly due to higher valuation caused by the raisin» of
this import by the local authorities, though there was also a slightly increased
demand in Dashti and Dashtistan.
Cand/es.—There was a greater'demand for candles in Shiraz and Ispahan
and the imports consequently slightly increased.
Cotton goods.—In spite of a certain amount of accumulation at the end
tost year owing to dearness of transport, the low prices in Manchester led to
1 fe lmP°rts of cotton goods during the year, and the large advance recorded
1 year has been still further increased this year by over 7 lakhs of rupees.
and iron'—Owing to the scarcity in Shiraz and dear exchange the
increase0* C°P*)er off ^y hkhs of rupees, but iron showed
a small
than mari:€t was dul1 and tte imPorts feU by rather more

£