Page 394 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

16 ADMINISTRATION DEPORT ON THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

Part IV.—TRADE.
The total trade of Maakat for the year 1896-97 is returned at $4,788,800
against $3,708,210 of the previous year, making an increase for the year of
$1,080,690.
Of this increase, however, a Bum of at least $4B0,000 must he deduoted
as the under-estimated price of arms and ammunition imported in the year
1895-96. It is to the advantage of the Customs authorities to undor-eatimato
the returns of imports, os the customs are farmed. In tho present year, how­
ever, independent information has boon obtained as to the quantities of arms
and ammunition imported, and hence the necessary correction in.the figures of
the year previous. The total increase of trade for the year 1896-97 may, there­
fore, bo estimated at $630,590. Of this gain, imports are responsible for
$141,000 and exports for $490,000.
The imports, however, exceed tho exports by §970,200, and it would appear,
therefore, that the balance of trade is against the countiy to this extent. This,
however, is not the case, for, owing to its situation, Maskat serves as the port of
entry for certain goods, arms in particular, which are destined for the Arab
Coast and other parts of the Persian Gulf.
Of the eight lakhs worth of arms which arrived during the past year, at
least six lakhs were for other countries, which have not proper facilities for
importing arms direct. The payment of theca arms is made in direct export
from, these places, as a reference to tho Bushire Residency Returns for tho Arab
Coast will show. In addition to the above, about a lakh and a half worth of
rice and piece goods, etc., are also re-exported to theso places, and hence of the
deficit of $970,000, about $750,000 have been accounted for. The balance
remaining appears to be the deficit against the country, which from the returns
appears to be made up in specie payments.
Of the total increase of $630,000 shown, imports give a net gain of
$141,000, made up as follows
Increase.
§ 6
Anna . • 240,000
Cereals • 40.000
Oils . 10.000
Ghee • 19.000
Piece goods • 27.000
Twist and yarn 68.000
Specie—Persia 16,000
9,000
Silk, etc. .
428,000
Decrease.
Coffee. • • 20,000
Rioe • • . 8,000
Unspecified-
India • • . 100,000
America • . 10,000
Turkey • . 36,000
Persia* • . 20,000
Other countries • 86,000
Specie— . 40,000
India • •
Turkey • . 6,000
Other countries . 6,000
287,000
. 141,000
Nr gaiv