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Merchants of the place, to take shares in the Purchases which he made; and thorefore was
only felt more 6overely, by the British Resident and the inferior order of Merchants. The
present Shaik Ncsar, who succeeded his Father, in the Government of Bushire in the Month -
of April 1789, hns not yet engaged in commerce, but it is probable, that the Advice of his
confidential Servants, may early induce him to tread in the footsteps of his Father.
Tho priucipal Importation from India made at Bushire consists of the Chintz Manu­
factures of the Coast of Coromandel; but this Branch of Commerce, seems to be much upon the
decline, from a cause which will be hereafter mentioned, and for the removal of which it will
appear vory difficult to suggest any adequate Means. The greatest part of the Bengal Goods,
imported at Bushire, are suited to and designed for the Bussora, Bagdad, Aleppo and other
Northern Markets, and the only plausible reason which can be assigned for tho proprietors
landing them at that Place, is to wait for a favorable opportunity of defrauding the Bassora
Governments of its Import Customs. The Importations of Surat Goods made at Bushire, are
inconsiderable, but it appears that the Merchants have in the course of last and this year,
given more attention to the Surat Trade than they were formerly accustomed to do. The
Commercial Intercourse which sub-ists, between Bushire and Muscat by Boats, affords large
Importations to tho latter, of Sugar, Sugar Candy, Spices of various sorts, Coffee, Metals of
different sorts and a variety of different petty Articles. The Sugar, Sugar Candy, Metals
and Spices imported at Bushire, by Boats, from Muscat, is commonly brought to the latter on
Dutch and French Vessels. The Merchant vessels also which annually leave Bengal for the
Persian Gulph, generally dispose of part of their Gruff Freight, consisting of Sugar Candy,
Iron and Plank, laden on board on account of the owners at Bushire; China and Glass Ware
is often imported at Bushire from Bombay, on the Cruizers of the Honourable Company, and
he deraiud for Indigo is supplied from Masulipatnam, by the arrival of the annual Bengal
Merchant Vessels, touching at that Port. It is necessary to remark, for the Information of the
British Government in India that the spirit of Mercantile Adventure in the Merchants at
Bushire, will always rise or fall, in proportion to the Stability or Instability of the Govern­
ment at Sherauze.
The Persian Merchant is obliged to make the greatest part of his returns to India, and of
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his Advances %6ent thither for tho Purchase of Goods, in specie; which con Rues, the Expert
made from Bushire to India to an inconsiderable quantity of old Copper Drugs, Rose water
dried Fruita &. The specie exported from Bushire to India, consists of Venetian Sequin9,
and different sorts of Persian Silver Coin, but as the Exchange varies very much, and often
proves severely disadvantageous to the Exporter he frequently prefers to export Gold and
Silver in Bare; The Remaining Exp -rts made at Bushire, are confined to Muscat and Bussora,
being made to the former in raw Silk, Cotton, Drugs and Dried Fruit, and to the latter
inconsiderable quantities of Grain and Dried Fruits. Bushire holds a mutual Exchange of the
different necessary Articles of Life, with a variety of petty Towns, situated on the Persian
shore of the Persiad Gulph, but it is conceived, that however these may tend to the advantage
of the Mercimnts residing at that plac-i, they are too insiguificant to merit the notice of the i
British Government in India. Siuce the Capture of the Island of Bahreen, by the Arabs of
tho Tribe of Beniattaba, but little Intercourse has subsisted between the Inhabitants, of the
opposite shores of the Persian Gulph:
The p«»rt of Bunder Reeg, is distant from Bushire about six hours sail but at present it
is not frequented, by any of the Merchant Vessels bound up the Gulph.—
The Island of Carrack only retains the Ruins of the Fort erected there by the Dutch
and is not at present of the smallest Commercial Importance. — h
Shuster i9 a City of considerable Importance, in regard to the Commercial Intercours
which subsists between it and Bussora; and on account of its manufacture of chintz, which
a6 will be hereafter observed, has within these two last years met with peculiar Encourage
ment. The Government of the City of Shuster, is nominally in the hands of a Khan, who
secure in his situation, has for some years past but slightly acknowledged the superiority of
the Government at Sherauze; but his Independence is restrained at home, by the Authority
possessed by the Elders of the City who are always watchful to prevent his abuse of Power.
By the Junction of different Rivers, there remains only two days Journey, to Ik* performed by
Land, between Bussora and Shuster, >o that the communication is frequent and uninterrupted
Bussora exports to Shunter Coffee, Pepper, Sugar, Cotton, Iron, Tin, Steel, Lead, Turmeric,

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