Page 59 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

bUSIUUE.'*' 15

increasing the export of natural produce- This has been the
basis of Russia’s growth of commerce in Northern Persia, so much
so that in the statistical report published by the Persian Minister
of Customs for the year 1905-0G exports from Persia to Russia
arc valued at 3,535,997?. as against imports declared at
3,533,737?. These figures represent a far heavier growth of
export trade to Russia than of import into Persia as com­
pared with the preceding year, viz., 907,568?. as compared with
443,203?. Compare these with importations from the United
Kingdom and India totalling 2,225,204?. and their exports from
Persia amounting to 473,291?. Here we see an almost stationary
import trade and a slightly decreased export. The operations of
the Germans attest the same policy, which is more in keeping with
the economic situation of Persia at present; their imports and
exports into Busliire are almost identical and the increase lies
in the export.
In 1906-07 by far the largest proportion of the increase of
128,431?. in the exports from Busliire went to the United Kingdom,
viz., 31,943?., and the percentage rose from 20 to 29 per cent.
India took 1,365?. less than in 1905 and lost S per cent. Together
the United Kingdom and India were responsible for 54 per cent, of
the total exports. The export of opium to China accounts for
19 per cent. more. For the rest all European countries, except
France, increased their imports from Persia; 10,432?. w’ent to
Russia and 24,228?. to Germany, and there is a noticeable extension
of exports to the United States. The following produce was largely
responsible for the increases:—Gum tragacanth, which reached the
enormous figure of 97,082?.; opium, with an increase of 33,621L,
reached 157,777?. ; gum (insoluble), unmanufactured tobacco,
almonds, raw wool, spices, undressed skins.
The very great development of the export of cummin seed Spioet.
is responsible for the increase of 4,618?. Cummin seed (zirreh)
is cultivated in several districts:—(1) The best at Kerman and
Arsinjan is generally exported via Bunder Abbas; (2) round
Kumeshah, near Isfahan; (3) on the plains near Shiraz; (4) in
Fimzabad, Dashtd and Dashtisan in the Bushire hinterland.
It is usually packed in bags of 14 cwts. Its price in Bushire
at the end of the year was 24 krans (about 11c?.) per Tabriz man
of lbs. Other Persian spices in demand are blackseeds (known
as “ Siah-dane ”), grown around Shahpur close to Kazerun. It
is an ingredient for pickles beside possessing medicinal qualities.
Aniseed is also cultivated in the districts of Fare. Saffron is well
known in the north-eastern province of Persia—Khorassan—whence
some makes its way to the south coast.
Formerly large shipments of raw wax were made to India and Saw wax.
Europe, but owing to the production of wax from mineral oil, and
its comparative cheapness, the beeswax industry in Persia received
a heavy blow. The increase in the cultivation of the poppy seems
to have driven away the bees from many of the honey-producing