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shortly after broke out in that quarter prevented its being carried at loait on the part of
tko Company to any great extont. In 1703 a factory was established at Bushiro under
articles of agreement with Shoik Soddoom and confirmed by a Royal grant from Carim Caun
but we do uot find that any considorablo trade was established. Great part of what had
boon carried on from India immediately with Poraia 6eems to have been transferred to Muskat,
which is vory oonvoniontly situatod for a depOfc of goods intended for tho Gulph when an
unsettled state of Government renders it hazardous to risk property in the country. From
a judicious encouragement given by Imaum at that port ho has brought it to a degree of
con8oqucnc6| it would without that and tho above circumstances never have attained. The
Imaum himself has now a flcot consisting (it is said) of twolve sail of 500 tons each and
upwards, besides a great number of dows and dingeyg, etc., which, though many of them
aro armed ho omploys occasionally on voyages to different parts of India, and up the Gulph J
ships of different nations carry to this port the merchandize required for tho consumption of
Persia which is purchased by Muscat merchants, and by them again transported in small
vessels or boats to tho Persian Shore.
The turn that the trado has taken, renders it exceedingly difficult to form an estimate
of the quantity of goods now imported into or exported from Persia, or to distinguish them
from those of the ports on the Arabian side of tho Gulph. The Bombay Custom House
book class under one head the trade to Musoat and the two . Gulphs which inoludes and the
Red Sea. And as duties are only collected on imports, the export entry does not express
either weight or value. No. 17 of the Appendix shews, however, a considerable increase in
the imports of the last three years, and which has been occasioned entirely by an increased in
the trado to Muskat and the Persian Gulph for the failure from the crop of coffee in those
years, presented any considerable imports from Mocha, but this inorease was chiefly in the
import of copper. The Right Honourable tho Governor-General in Council having in
1789 expressed himself solicitous, to be informed of the state of the trade in the western
part of India and the Gulph of Persia and Arabia. Mr. Charles Watkins, the Resident at
Bushiro, collected a very full and particular account of the import at that place, which we
have copies into the Appendix No. 19* as also the report of the Resident and factor at
Bussora, No. 20.t
The following general artioles seem now to constitute tho trade to Muscat and the
Persian Gulph.
From Surat, Grzerat and Cutch.—Piece goods, coarse, of different colours principally
blue dooties and ohints, also silk piece goods, cotton, rice, wheat and badjeree.
From Bombay.—Broad oloth, long ells, iron, steel, tutinague, coarse China sugar,
sugar candy, lepper stick lac indigo, cardamums, cloves turmerick, dry ginger, cassia,
nutmegs and mace.
From Bengal.—Sugar, rice, white and coloured piece goods.
From Matulijpatam.—Chints.
The native merchants report the whole of these articles excepting broad doth and long
ells to be advantageous articles of trade.
Aga Mahomed Behebany, Agent of Mehedi Ally Caun, the present Resident at Bushire,
has furnished us with an annual estimate of supplies from India to the Persian market and
from Persia to India whioh we have copiod into the Appendix No. 21. By this it appears that
the annual consumption of Indian artioles in Persia amounts to R23,00,000 and the exports
to H9,60,000, including pearl, but omitting copper, whioh we believe now comes chiefly
from Bussora, and respecting which we havo given No. 22 Extract of our address from the
Bombay Custom Master, containing the best information we have been able to collect on the
subject.

On the last point, and what we consider tho principal one reforred, the means of
increasing tho trado, these wo apprehond rest ohiefly with the King of Persia, or rather with the
* Not traoeablo.
f Appoudix X.
2578 K. D.