Page 93 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

REPORT

OP THE

BCTSHIRE TRADE

March. 1917-18.

General. at 30, which partly accounts for the Increase.
Checking by a comparison of weights we find
In spite of all advene circumstances arising out imports rose from 21,467 to 39,258 and export*
d the European War and Persian conditions, such fell from 3,001 to 2,746 tons which, though less
is shortage of tonnage, high Persian eichange, sensational, sufficiently fulfils the prophecy made
unrest in the South, famine conditions in the in the 191G-17 Trade Report that “despite the
interior, scarcity of animal transport, not to continuance of an active state of rebellion and
mention illegal exactions and general anarchy lawlessness on the part, of the tribal chiefs in the
which are apparently sempiternal, the statistics Hinterland of Bushire, through whose district^
show a very satisfactory increase in import and the main caravan routes pass, them is every hope
export trade during the Persian year “ Ilan-II," for a continuance of these favourable conditions
ie., March 21st, 1917 to March 21st, 1913. The (i.e.t very heavy forwarding and a revival of
figures are deceptive to a certain extent, as will trade), during 1917-18/*
le shewn immediately, but the fact remains that The harvest too was not quite such a failure as
there was marked improvement and the market usual and distress was not so marked among the
was distinctly good ; and this satisfactory state of local population.
afFalrs may be attributed to the comparative open­
ness of the Bnshire-Shiraz-Isfaban road as corn­
ered with its competitors and to the appreciation Volume of Trade.
if the Persian Kran which enabled purchasers of Imports for the past five years have been :—
Manchester piece-goods —and articles of import
generally, whether British or Indian,—to be made Tom. £
»t a cheap rate. To these factors may be added 1913- 14 . 23.614 (S25J67)
‘be circumstance that certain Persian merchants 1914- 15 • 18,041 (669,339)
Continued to increase their wealth, * e., purchasing 1915- 16 . 14,029 (777,317)
;ower, by considerable exports of opium, which is, 1916- 17 . 21,467 (1,299,562)
*f course, in much request during the temporary 1917- 18 39,268 (2,439,173)
'.blite ration of the Turkish supply and which,
^uring the war, has trebled in value. So also, Principal increases were in wood for building,
Incidentally, have certain classes of piece-goods. candles, rice, flour, wheat, barley, loaf and crystal
I Ai noted above, the statistics have to be read sugar (from 7,658 tons to 15,491), tern, cotton
Pth* caution. Imports appear as £2,439,179 piece-goods (£451,868 to £350,976), other tissues,
West previous figure in 1916-17—£1,299,562) mercery, etc. In other words Sooth Persia is
M exports as £820,951 (previous best £719,171 largely fed and clothed from India, and the
Min 1916-17, £443,434): in other words an Persians themselves are unquestionably the
grease of 87f per cent, and 85 per cent, .re- heaviest losers wherever the perennial conditions
/ctivejy on last year. But last year's figures are of anarchy reach a point prohibitive of commerce.
j*lculat«l at 40 brans to the £ and this year's These substantial increases farther show the