Page 113 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

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IilSHIKE. 13
about 300 bales of Russian prints were also taken to Sbiraz, and a
Russian merchant from Isfahan periodically tours the outlying
districts of Fars to collect outstandings.
Dutch cambrics and Dutch drills (though not shown in the
customs statistics) arc other non-British goods which continue to
find customers, chiefly in Isfahan.
Prices of cotton goods are, generally speaking, influenced much
more in Persia by the demand and amount on the market at any
one centre than by the price of cotton in Manchetser. The con­
gestion of the market up-country throughout the year was respon­
sible for the low prices obtainable. Should the .province of Fars
achieve a greater measure of tranquillity during 1009, and the
tribesmen in outlying districts and along the trade route be kept
better in hand by the local government, this market will doubtless
revive, but if the present state of things continue the piece-goods
trade will seriously suffer.
The following table shows the average ruling prices in Bushire
for standard cotton goods from March, 1907, to March, 1908 :—
Mexicans—
90 yards ... ... G3, G3, Go and 70 krans in March
43 „ (Bombay) ... 31, 33, 32 and 33 „
19, 191. 16 and ITkraaa
White mulls, 22 yards
134, 124 and 13 krans
„ shirting?, 40 yards... ... 3G, 37, 34 and 33 krans
Fast red twills. 52 and 54 yards... 43, 44, 39 and 49
Black twills, 54 yards ... 52, 48, 50, 54 and 50 krans
Red and purple dubahis, GO and 65
yards ........................ ... 33, 32, 34 and 33 krans
Chocolate dubabrs. Go yards ... 37$ and 3G krans
Lamsa prints, GO yards ... ... 40, 37, 35, 40 and 42 krans
Black Italians, per yard ... ... 3$, 3 and 3$ krans
-Vote.—It is impossible to state the equivalent in sterling of these prices aa
the loan exchange was so constantly fluctuating.

Loaf sugar.—The total import decreased from 144,334 to
9S,033 cwts., representing a decrease of 39,876Z., due firstly to
insecurity prevailing in Fars and Isfahan, which prevented the
sugar being taken into outlying districts, and secondly, to the large
surplus of Marseilles sugar remaining over from the previous
year.
Attention was called in last year’s report, No. 3581, to the
misleading nature of the customs statistics regarding the origin
of loaf sugar imported into Persia. The figures for 1907-08 would
appear to show that the imports from the United Kingdom have
increased from 7,133 to 49,645 cwts., and the other countries have
similar misstatements. The chief figures as given by the customs
are:—