Page 174 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

12 BCSUIKKL
The customs figures as to the respective countries of origin are,
however, quite misleading.
The Hungarian brand, which had begun to reappear in March,
1908, continues most in favour for the littoral, probably forming one-
third of the total import.
The Belgian sugar was less seen owing to its higher price.
These brands now make their way, to some extent, into the district
of Shiraz and, with Russian sugar penetrating to Isfahan from the
north, the area for the sale of Marseilles sugar has been much restricted.
The tendency to still further lower the weight of these cones, though
they conform as far as possible-to the shape and size of the Marseilles
cone, was exemplified by requests to lower the 1*70. and l*C0-kilo.
cones to 1’55 kilos. As eases arc sold by the number of cones, this
forms a sort of petty deception practised by the wholesale seller on the
retail seller and consumer.
Prices in September, 190S, stood at 58 krans for the Belgian and
59 krans for the Hungarian brand per case. In October the
local sale price was 3 krans 55 c. for Marseilles sugar per man of 7J lbs.
In Shiraz, on the same date, sugar was quoted at 5 krans 5 c. cash,
but transport was too dear to permit of stocks going up-country.
In December the price in Shiraz had risen to 5 krans 30 c. per n an
of 7$ lb-., while in Bushire it stood at 5$ krans.
Crystal sugar.—The import rose by s:»me 7,000 cwts. to
4 6,STS cwts., though tills was a long way short of the 69.567 cwts.
imported in 1907-OS. With the exception of about 5,000 bags of
Russian crystals it was almost entirely composed of Austro-Hungarian
manufactures.
Tea.—Though the total amount of tea which passed through the
customs fell from JG.65G cwts. in 1907-08 to 13,670 cwts. in 1908-09,
there is no doubt that owing to the large amounts smuggled there was
no reduction of the heavy stock in the country. Disorders in the
interior reacted unfavourably on sales in the commercial centres,
and prices therefore kept very low. As an illustration of the loss
inflicted on bom fide trade and the general upsetting of prices, a
Persian trader bought at 17 krans per mdn of 7f lbs, a quantity of
tea, which was brought into Bushire from Borazjun, 45 miles inland,
the wholesale price of which in Bushire, when imported through the
customs, was 22 krans per 7f lbs.
Smuggling during the last three years has increased by leaps and
bounds, as the following figures will show:—
!
1908-07. 1907-08. 1908-09.

!
• CNrU. Cwts. Cwts.
Bahrein ...I 930 1*300 2,470
Koweit ...; 758 446 171
Shargah 160
Dubai... • •• 242 308

Traders who do not scruple to have their goods smuggled are able
to introduce tea at small ports 20 and 30 miles from Bushire and