Page 126 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

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Towards the end of the year the road, which had for jears been infested
with robbers, became quite safe, and caravans could pass freely \r> and down
without any risk of robbery, and only very little of extortion. This gave a
great fillip to trado, and a considerable volume of traflic was passing up the
road at the end of (ho year.
The result of tbo increased safety of the road should bo apparent during
the uoxt year.
Bates of mule hire varied between .€17 per ton in Ootobor and €13 in
April. At tho close of the year tho rate stood at €23 a considerabl e reduction
in the rates prevailing during 1917-18 and for some years previous.
Exchange.—The rates of exchange between the kran and pound sterling,
fluctuated between 32| krans to the pound and 25J krans to tho pound, the
highest level being in March and the lowest in October. Tho rases between
the kran and rupee varied from 230 krai:* to 100 rupees in March to krans 190
to 100 rupees in October. The average rates for tho yoar were:—
30 40 lcr&ns . =£1
m*82 „ . =Rs. 10<0
The statistics with this report have been calculated at 30 krans to tho
pound.
Rainfall.—Tho rainfall during the year was 8*06 inches as against 5*95
inches the previous year and an average yearly rainfall of 10*5 inches approxi­
mately. '
The harvest was not a good one. .
JPublic health.—There was no epidemic of plague or cholera during the
1 year, and not more than uEual amount of small-pox in the early spring.
A very severe epidemic of influenza attacked Bushire iu October and
rapidly spread throughout Southern Persia: the disease being more or less
new in the country, and the people not knowing in the least how to deal with
it, played great havoc: the mortality was very great, whole families being
wiped out. It was estimated that the Kashqai tribal forces collected outside
Shiraz lost quite 30 per cent, of their numbers. Tho epidemic finally died
down and disappeared in November 1918.
Freights.—The rate for general cargo to Bushire varied between the high
figures of Ks. 30 and Bs. 65 per ton.
Practically all shipments to London wore by transhipment in India, the
. rates for the principal commodities exported being-
Almonds and Pistachio# . £7 per ton.
Gum Tragac&nth • 17 >9
Carpets of wool . . £8 n
Opium . . . • - JU. 300 u
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