Page 103 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

No. 4179. Annual Series.

Reference to previous Report, Annual Series Kb. 3951.

Report on the Trade of the Consular District of Bush ire for the
Persian Fiscal Year March 22, 1907, to March 21. 1908,

By Mr. Vice-Consul H. G. Chick.

A review of the trade of Busliire and the province of Fars for
the year ending March, 1908, as shown in statistical returns and in
the general state of commerce, presents rather an anomalous state
of affairs. Despite a considerable increase in the total volume of
trade, the conditions of business generally, owing to the various
external influences affecting its welfare, both locally and in' the
interior, have gone from bad to worse in comparison with 1906-07.
Such influences may be summed up under three heads:—(i) The
disturbances in Shiraz and at places lying along the great caravan
route, which continued intermittently throughout the year to the
detriment of trade ; (ii) unrest in the Bus hire district and increase
of smuggling to the prejudice of legitimate trade; (iff) over­
speculation on the part of petty Persian traders and an accumula­
tion of stocks for which there has been no demand. To these must
be added a great scarcity of cash and paper at various periods in
the year, and the failure of several traders in Shiraz and Bus hire
to meet their liabilities.
As the effect of these harmful conditions is likely to make itself
felt seriously in both the import and export trade at this port for
the next year or two (it has already been seen in heavy decreases
of trade during the opening months of the year 1908-09), it will not
be out of place to allude to them in some detail.
(i) Reference to the sketch map attached will show that Bushire
is the port and terminus for the great and ancient caravan route
which runs through Kazerun to Shiraz and Isfahan, and thence
on to Teheran. Bushire itself is a busy little town of some 23,000
inhabitants, and the population of the peninsula on which it stands
is occupied in seafaring, agriculture and trade. A certain portion
of imported supplies and stocks is no doubt required for consump­
tion in the town, and in the districts of Tangistan, Dashtistan and
Dashti in the immediate vicinity, but far the largest proportion
is intended for the supply of the greater centres of Shiraz and
Isfahan, which are respectively the capitals of provinces.
(468) A 2