Coll 30/9 'Persian Gulf: Administration Reports 1926-1938' [‎174r] (352/1028)

SECTION T.
Manumission.
During 1934 the following number of slaves were manumitted :—
Bahrain Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .. .. .. .. .. 19
Muscat Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .. .. .. .. .. 31
Sharjah Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. .. .. .. .. .. 1
B. P. WATTS, Major,
Secretary to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
SECTION 8.
Trade and Trade Facilities.
General condition .-—The year under review was one of the worst as far
is trade conditions in Bushire and district were concerned. The continual
’eports of the stagnancy of the market show the great difficulty the merchants
iad to face in their trade.
During the last few years owing to lack of statistics for Bushire it is diffi
cult to express any idea with regard to the volume of trade both in Imports and
Rxuorts Although attempts have been made to obtain some sorts ot statistics
tor the annual trade report submitted to the Depratment of Overseas Trade
these will not help much because only the number of packages are given with
in! the value both as regards Imports and Exports.
In view of the Iranian Government trade regulations in regard to import
ficences business gradually slackened and fell away throughout the yeai. I
fact trade in all staple ap'ods is now placed in the hands either of a Govern-
ment Monopoly or syndicate, a few merchants were able to join the syndicate
and the rest were not able to do any business with the continent except m non-
ware, and sundry goods.
Part of the suo-ar trade and matches still remained as a Government
< ^0' V ’e rnI Such m^ethodsnon'the^part'oT'the Go^rnment completed this down-
d aMtrSg^chants in ^twn^nnd t^pr ^Ued
se^whaHs'left 1 fonthem to do except emplo, their capital
in speculation to sundry goods.
small dealers. „ ,
The Iranian Government seems to tTinlS
into its hands and increase its leceiiae no ■ >_ they decided to control
ing profits over the monopolised goods In ^‘y 1^J y hants to se ll
and stabilize the price of export e °S and to buy at the rate
them to the National Bank at the fixe [ ti ] { a ft er three months and the
of 131 per cent., parent to S ofmoney before, date At
transaction discounted it the n ^ _ certificates was however raised to 30
Ss sit te-o—i fjWjrai'grsSSs »«”,rs.£ &*!s
titipo at which he sold. _ i •
the mai'ket and^ie -eXnt°s tXX“ah
nor to overcome the stagnancy. E
I.s213Fp