Page 414 - PERSIAN 2C 1890_1899_Neat

6 ADMINISTRATION XUCPORT ON TUB PERSIAN GULP
POLITICAL
and l believe forward shippings aro satisfactory for all those who share in this
nominally illicit trade.
Candles.—This commodity was in slightly greater demand in Bu h*
this year than last, and in slightly less demand at Bunder Abbas and in *
place the supply followed the demand. acu
Cotton Goods.—This class of goods comes mostly through or is transshi
ped in Bombay and the quarantine imposed against that port has produced^*
decrease of imports except in the case of yarn and twist.
Drugs and Medicines.—-These articles coming mostly from India and being
liable to deterioration from exposure, were affected by the quarantine also and
show a slight falling off.
Glass and Glassware.— In these goods there was a small falling-off also
probably only duo to general slackness of trade.
Gold Lace and Thread.—The importers, up-country, introduced a better
class of these goods by the northern route and the trade in the south though
showing a small increase felt the new competition.
Hardware and cutlery.—An increased demand produced a slightly
greater supply.
Indigo.—The famine in India accounted for the falling-off in the import
of this produce of about 3£ lakhs of rupees.
Matches.—This article shows a rise chiefly owing to a fresh source of
importation haviug been introduced and Austrian matches put on the market
Metals.—The trade last year was not particularly brisk and a fair demand
this year enabled importers to show an increase of 1£ lakhs over last year.
Oils.—Owing to local intrigues the Persian authorities raised objections to
the manner in which burning oils were stored, and detained-one largo shipment
thus discouraging further shipments by the principal importing firms. Bence
there is a falling-off in the import of this article which would not otherwise
have been the case.
Porcelain and Chin a ware.—The money returns of these wares show an
improvement of a few thousand rupees, but this is accounted for rather by the
plague and famine in India inducing importers to import less of the cheap
Indian and more of the more expensive European article than by actually
increased imports.
Provisions and Stores.—The bad harvests of two consecutive years left so
little wheat in the country that large quantities of flour were imported and
other items remaining about the same, these goods show an increase of 1-i
lakhs.
Sugar, loaf and soft.—There was an increased demand for soft sugar and
the imports of it increased; in the case of loaf sugar a slight increase in money
totals is due to more imports of the French article and less of the Indian,
owing to the plague in India.
show a
Tra.—Cheap Calcutta teas form the chief imports and the figures
decrease of 8 lakhs, but this does not necessarily mean that trade profits have
suffered.
Woollen goods.—The winter of 1896 was not a severe one, and the people
found little need for warm clothing, consequently these goods were sparingly
imported and show a falling-off as against last year of over 2J lakhs.

Exports.
Dorses.—-Famine and bad times in India nearly closed the Bombay