Page 619 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

RESIDENCY AND MASKAT FOLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1898-99. 85

Rosewater.—A. scanty rainfall diminished the supply of rosea &d<1 the
continuance of the plague in India caused a further fall in the export of this
perfume.
Shells.—The largo profits realized in oyster shells in 1890 and 1897 and
the demand in London led many merchants, who had hitherto held aloof,
to speculate in this article. There was comcquently a further increase of
Rs. 4,G9,408 in the experts. The eagerness of the shippers, unfortunately,
prompted them to consign everything they could purchase irrespective of
quality, thereby causing the London market to be overstocked and disaster to
all who indulged in the trade. Losses of 76 per cent, and more are said to
have been suffered.
Silk.—A further fall of Rs. 13,650, as compared with the figures for 1897
occurred in the export of this ware. This is due probably to on increased local
demand and a poor market in India.
Tobacco.—An increased demand in Egypt, Turkey and Greece improved
the exports by Rs. 1,32,852. The figures are, however, still below those for
1896.
Wool.—As anticipated in last year’s report, there has been a decline in the
export of wool to the extent of Rs. 1,63,295. The primary causes were a dull
London market and the operations in America being limited. The year’s clip
has been unsatisfactory in quality on account of a considerable portion of the
wool having had to be shorn from the carcasses of sheep, amongst which the
mortality has been abnormal owing to the poorness of the pasturage. A consi­
derable stock of wool was awaiting sale at the close of the year.
Carpets.’— An extensive demand in the Egyptian markets and in a lesser
degree in Turkey has resulted in an increased exportation amounting to
Rs. 1,85,350.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Exchange.- The year opened with a rate of Krans 54$ for the pound sterling
and fluctuated near that figure till the end of August, when it rose gradually
to Krans tOJ a month later, and then took a downward tendency to Krans 52$
at which figure it stood at the end of the year.
The average exchange with India for the year was Krans 353 for Rs. 100,
and the highest and lowest figures touched during that period were Krans
365 and 330 respectively.
Specie —No statistics of imports or exports of specie are kept by the
Customs authorities of the Persian Gulf Ports and Shiraz. The figures given
in the tables are gathered from the records of the steamship companies and the
Imperial Bank of Persia.
There is a considerable amount of specie, other than that noted, carried by
native sailing craft for puiposcs of trade with Turkish Arabia, Arab Coast.
Oman, India and East Africa for which figures are unprocurable; the recorded
movements of specie are therefore only approximate.
The imports of treasure into the Persian ports show a slight decline of
1 per cent, and the exports a decrease of 18 per cent, below the year before.
Lingah imported 60 percent., Bushire 32 per cent, and Bunder Abbas 8 per
cent, of the total treasure imported ; and in the exports Lingah sent 81* per
cent., Bushire 10$ per cent, and Bunder Abbas 8$ per cent, of the whole.
India supplied 60 per cent, of the specie, nearly all to Lingah, principally for
re-export to the Arab Coast and its neighbourhood for purchasing pearls
and oyster shells. Consequently the exports of specie from that port° is four
and a half times as great as those from the other two ports.
Hitherto information regarding movement of specie at Shiraz has not
been forthcoming, and the figures for 1898 obtained though the Imperial Bank
ofPersia were received too late to be included in the tables for centre of trade
ihe imports from the districts south of Shiraz were about 232,600 Tomans*
and exports to the north were 263.400 Tomans, equal to
Rs. 7,dl,666. lhe Toman equals about Rs. 2-12-6. H
■G*r*:’”Tlle rate of transport, a most important item in the import
Shfr^ a qU°tatl0n of Krans 105 Per 100 maunds of 775 lbsl to
Shiraz at the commencement of the year. It steadily declined till July, when