Page 121 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

BUSHIRE. 21
Gum tragaca-nth.—Total export, 14,753 cwts. against 17,471 cwts.
in 1900-07; the export to the United Kingdom, however, increased,
from $,313 cwts. in 1906-07 to 11,448 cwts. in 1907-08, due to fair
prices in London for grades ranging between 41. to 61. 5s. But all
shipments have not given satisfactory results ; this was chiefly due
to certain Fcrsian traders buying recklessly at higher prices than
in 190G-07, though London prices had fallen. This gum is largely
consigned to London in payment of imports of cotton goods.
Persian exporters in Shiraz do not seem able—or willing—to dis­
criminate between the different qualities.
Gum uisoluUc.—Trade with Europe in this aiticle has fallen off
altogether owing to the continued absence of any demand, and the
product has in many cases not been gathered during 1907-08. It
is reported that a cheaper and better substitute has been found.
Should this be true it will mean a considerable loss to Persian trade,
the average amount annually exported in the last decade having
been as much as 20,000 to 30,000 cwts. from Bushire alone.
Drugs.—There has been a decrease in the export of cummin
seed, which may be attributed to the disturbed state of the provinces,
but in any case the Isfahan and Sliiraz kinds cannot, in the matter
of quality, compare with that of Bunder Abbas, which is of a more
aromatic character. The export of assafeetida is of some import­
ance to Southern Persia. Growing chiefly in the districts round
Yczd. Kerman and Kkorassan, it is exported from Lingah, Bunder
Abbas and Bushire to the amount of 8,000 or 9,000 ewis. annually,
but there appear to be direct exports to Europe. The drug first
goes to India for selection.
Carpets.—It is probable that failures in America and Con­
stantinople. and the consequent scarcity of money, which have also-
affected the prices in Egypt, have had more to do with the heavy
decrease of 26,538/. in woollen and cotton carpets than the smaller
production owing to disorders in the country. American travellers
in Egypt are reported to have bought much less freely, and Con­
stantinople is reported over-stocked. In any case prices have
declined considerably in Persia and are cheaper by 20 to 25 per
cent., while large parcels of carpets of sorts are understood to be
now in hand in Persia unable to find a sale.
Raw skins.—The great decline of prices in India has quite upset
the export of skins, which weighed 11,926 cwts. in 1906-07 and only
4,789 cwts. in 1907-08. From December, 1907, to December, 1908,
prices had dropped in Shiraz from 400 to 200 krans, and even at
this quotation there were no buyers.

(468) » 3