Page 53 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

BUSU1RE. 9

to 18 rs. Some 3,000 bags were imported during the year. If
prices still rule high merchants will probably tiy Guadur instead of
Karachi.
The import of spices—almost entirely from India—increased Spice*,
from 8,259/. to 11,-107!. Good business can be done in spices, of
which the following arc the principal:—(1) Tamarind (in Persian,
“ tainar three kinds: (a) without seeds, (6) with a few seeds,
(c) with many seeds; (2) pepper (filfU); (3) ginger (zanjibin);
(4) turmeric (zardcliube); (5) cinnamon (dar chini); (6) carda-
mums (hil); (7) cassia (fulus).
To the dearness of cotton in the United Kingdom and the Cotton yarn*,
consequent high price of British yams is to be attributed the gain
of 5.027!. by India, while the United Kingdom’s share dwindled
to GG2!.
Bombay yarns, known as “ gamti,” now hold the market,
though it is said that there is a growing consumption of native
Persian cotton. The two marks of Bombay yarns which find
especial favour are:—(1) “ Gamti ” No. 2. (Victory's head.)
Mostly used in Bushire for making sails, <fcc. Priced at 22 krans per
parcel (approximately 8s.). (2) Gamti ” No. 3. (Same mark.)
These are chiefly in demand at Isfahan for making cotton stuffs;
and very good seeks of this material are made locally. Each parcel
weighs SI lbs. and is priced at 30 krans (approximately 10s. I Id.).
Both these yarns are termed "Ranee” in price lists from India.
Manchester reels of the same mark are 24 krans per gross of
200 yards. (3) “ Gamti ” “ Goat ” brand, priced at 51 krans
(approximately 2s. Id.) per gross of 100 yards in length. Mail Chester
yarns bearing the same trade-mark are priced at 124 krans per
gross.
Jute yarns (in Persian, “ Sutii”) are used very largely for sewing jut* jama,
sacking for caravan loads. There was but little on the market in
the spring of 1906, and last year’s decrease became an increase of
3.140/. For tliree months not a lb. was to be had in Bushire;
prices were np at 16 krans (5a. Ad.) per 7 lbs^ but came down on the
arrival of supplies to 8 and 9 krans {2s. 8d. and 3s.). Two kinds are
in use:—“ Chahar nakh ” (four strands); “ Se nakh ” (three
strands)—better liked as it is cheaper. Nearly all is of Calcutta
manufacture.
Information tends to show that the coast district from Bunder
Dilam to Tahiri relies more and more on Karachi for its sustenance.
The poor rice crop of 1906 in India sent prices up from 6 rs. 4 a.
in March per bag to 12 rs. in March, 1907. At the same time larger
quantities were sent down country from Kazerun and Shiraa.
Kazerun rice is superior to Indian, the grains are larger and heavier.
Altogether some 15,000 bags of 1J cwts. each have been imported.
No forecast is yet available till the rains have fallen in India as
to the probable state of the market in 1907-08.
Cutlery and hardware, which embraces a large field, demon- Cutlary and
strates by its steady increase the advantage that might be taken hardwar®.