'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [‎8r] (15/92)

BUSHIRE RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. FOR 1873-74.
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There are probably other articles of export and import to which
analogous remarks would apply. Such considerations have, however, as
yet little weight with Persian officials.
Opium. —Persian opium is grown in Khorasan and the districts
about Yezd and Ispahan, whence it is brought to Bushire and Bunder
Abbass for export to China and England. The trade has in
recent times assumed considerable proportions. The quality is good,
but it is said that adulteration is now so extensively practised as to
bid fair to check the trade with China, unless the Persian authorities
take measures to prevent fraud.
Carpets. —Export of carpets is said to be on the increase and less
wool is exported in consequence. ♦
Specie. —It is noticeable that the quantity of specie exported is
much in excess of imports. This has been the case for the last century
I am given to understand, and to this fact many merchants attribute
the exhaustion of commerce. The inconvenience of the want of money
has been very much felt, transactions being in consequence suspended or
effected by barter. Increased productions would probably remedy this evil.
Imports. Piece Goods. —The imports of piece goods at Bushire during
the year 1873 are estimated at about 17^ lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . This branch
of trade is chiefly in the hands of British merchants, who have pushed
it, in spite of disadvantages and discouragements, with great success.
This result is due to their energy and perseverance. The prospects of
the trade have interest, as a competition with northern routes has long
existed and the contest may still be renewed. The goods of this descrip
tion formerly reached Central Persia by Tabreez and Teheran. Recently
the southern route has obtained the preference, but improved communica
tion in the north would again give great advantages to the north.
Indigo. —Imports of indigo from Bengal have decreased owing to
decrease of means, the inhabitants use more of the inferior quality from
Sind.
Sugar. — The imports of sugar have decreased in late years.
Batavia has now the preference over Mauritius, Siam, and Bengal.
Trade of Lingah. —The trade of Lingah has not so close a bearing
on the general commerce of Persia as that of Bushire: for Lingah is
greatly used as an " entrepot" or port of deposit for goods from foreign
countries intended for distribution round the Gulf. It is also a depot
for pearls.
Prospects of trade in South Persia. —It is well known that of late
years the steam communication with Persia has largely developed, a
greater degree of attention has been directed to Persia; rumours abound
of improvements of Government and land communication, and schemes
have been devised for developing the resources of the country. Notwith
standing all this the merchants of the south do not appear sanguine as
to the trade prospects.
Impediments to trade. —Commerce is certainly subjected to unusual
and in some respects unaccountable checks in this part of Persia. The
foreign trader is beset with difficulties and annoyances at every step.