Page 53 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

RESIDENCY AND MUSCAT TOLtTlCAti AO&NCf WOR 1800-91. 47

Part V.—TRADE REPORT POR THE YEAR 1890.

Trade and Commerce,
The town of Moliammerah has at present little export trade, there being
no resident merchants of any importance (with the exception of a branch of
Messrs. Lynch Brothers, of London). The resident merchants are simply for­
warding agents to firms up-country or at the town of Koweit in Turkish
Arabia. The export trade of the province—wheat, oil seeds, wool, and cotton—is
chiefly in the hands of Bussorah merchants, who purchase produce up to the
Karun and convey it to Bussorah for sale or export.
Dates, which are grown in large quantities, are chiefly exported to India in
native boats, which come up in the season to purchase them.
There are a certain number of mules and horses exported to India; but
there being no restriction now on export of horses from Turkey, only those
from Koweit (by native boat and Bahmisher river) and a few from interior of
Persia arrive for shipment.
There are some thirty shopkeepers who import piece-goods from Bombay
through one or other of local merchants. About ten bales are opened weekly to
supply shops and petty traders from Howizeh, principally cheap kinds of shirt­
ings and chintz, some of Indian, but principally of English manufacture.
Exports, as far as I have been able to ascertain, were as follows :—

To Great Britain.
£
Wheat 311 tons 1,274
Simsim 399 cwts. 153
Dales 225 tons 2,000

7otal 3,427 3,427

ft Frtnou
£
Simsun 313 ewt. 131 131 -
TV India.
£
Dates 5,122 tons 25,757
Simsixn 3,393 certs. 1,552
Linseed 1,108 cwts. 434
Wool 2,080 bales 15,757
Cotton 90 cwts. 138
Reeds 320 bundles 50
Bngloss 4«U « 140
Horses 465 3,726
Mules, 196 1,960 49,538

Total 49,538 53,096

The imports by a 6teamer are as follows, and in addition there is good deal of
Russian kerosine oil and a few other articles imported by native boats, and by