Decline of the
trade of
Basrah.
Superior
position of
Kurnah for
commerce.
Baghdad, its
imports, &c.
Opening for
British
commerce at
Mosul.
'allowed me to copy, and I found the country well adapted for its cultivation.
Indigo of a good quality is also produced about Dizful, and many articles might
be raised in the country if the inhabitants were encouraged.”
Twenty-one miles beyond Mohammerah is the port of Basrah, once an emporium
Existing
impediments to
trade.
Russian goods
in Kurdistan.
of trade in the time of the East India Company’s factory, but which has
gradually declined since its removal. It would, however, probably regain some
of its former importance with the establishment of steam, especially as it is
remarkable for the fertility of its soil; although from the superior position of
Kurnah (39 miles above Basrah), and commanding both the rivers Euphrates and
Tigris, it is probable that the latter will be found more advantageous, particularly
as vessels can there lie alongside the houses for loading and unloading in deep
water. From Kurnah, steamers would ascend the Tigris in four days to Baghdad,
where trade is already carried on to some extent, but which possesses commercial
resources capable of great development. Its imports and exports, with the revenue
derived from them, have been detailed in vol. I., pp. 109, 110. In addition to
the articles there mentioned, sugar, coffee, and indigo are imported from Bengal.
In one year, about 3,000 bags of Bengal sugar of 10 maunds (19 lbs.) each, 2,000
tubs of sugar-candy of 5 maunds each, 300 bags of indigo, 2 cwt. each, amounting
in value to about 47,0001., were imported into Baghdad, besides coffee, tea, loaf-
sugar, &c.: indigo and cotton might be cultivated with less expense, and as advantageously
as in Egypt.
The next place of importance on the Tigris is Mosul; and here a considerable
opening for British commerce exists. The present consumption of English goods
in Mosul and the adjacent country is more than sufficient to support a mercantile
establishment, although these goods are at present carried thither from Aleppo,
Damascus, or Baghdad, by native traders of small capital, who pay a very hekvy
duty of 14 per cent., and are purchased from third or fourth hands, by which the
prices to the consumers are so enormously enhanced, as to place the articles
almost beyond their reach. A piece of print worth thirteen shillings, in Manchester,
is sold in Mosul for thirty-two shillings. The English merchants, however,
only pay 3 per cent. The houses at present receiving British goods in Syria
are nearly all commission houses, and consequently unable to sell so cheaply by
10 percent, as the regular merchant; which is a serious disadvantage to Arab
trade. If mercantile houses were established -at Mosul and Diyar-Bekr, goods
arriving from England, even without the proposed facilities of steam, could he
transported at a comparatively small cost from Alexandretta to Dyar-Bekr, and
thence down the river to M6sul; or the caravans would go direct from Alexandretta
to Mosul, and the consumers would thus obtain British manufactures at
little more than one-half of what they pay at present, and the consumption would
naturally increase. The trade of such an establishment would probably soon
extend into Persia, where Russian trade is. now increasing. Calicoes printed near
Moscow were in 1839 sold in Kurdistan and Mesopotamia. The products of
these countries would afford advantageous returns to England m gall-nuts, sheep s
wool, and madder-roots. Of the former 1,500 cantars, about 350. tons, are
brought annually from M6sul alone to Aleppo for shipment to Europe, and an.
Exchange with high-priced foreign goods is effected advantageously to both par- Articles of
ties. Prime black galls can be purchased in Mosul at 950 piastres per cantar sported from
1874- okes (an oke of M&sul is 480 drachms); and including all expenses of Mosul, &c.
carriage to Alexandretta, they would, when ready for shipment^ amount to 1,300
piastres per cantar, or fifty-two- shillings per cwt, Sheepls wool is abundant and
■of very fine quality, and gives, a handsome profit, even under the present disadvantageous
circumstances. Madder roots, fine goats’ wool, yellow wax, and arsenic
are also articles of profitable export from M&sul and Diyar-Bekr. The articles Articles of
most in demand among the natives are printed and dyed calicoes, muslins manufacture in
(lappets), printed handkerchiefs, bleached maddapolams, forty yards, fine, cotton demand,
velvets, grey domestics (calicoes), and light cloths, such as are called ladies’ cloth
in England; there is also a considerable demand for zebras, a cotton stuff made in
Glasgow and Paisley. In Mosul they use a good, deal of water-twist yam
No. 20/30 for making a light jaconet, which they print for head-dresses; there is
also a considerable consumption of cochineal by the printers and dyers in that
town. In any mercantile establishment in Mosul, it would be necessary to have
a person at home acquainted with the taste of the natives, to select the goods. Causes of the
The great attention paid by the Russians to the taste of these countries, has been success
one great cause of their success in trade.
The commerce of M6sul would necessarily extend to and be connected with Existing trade
Mardin and Diyir-Bekr. • The existing trade of the former place is considerable, Bi^ “B*krand
and might be increased. It is accessible from Mosul in 54 hours by Chilloaga
aud Nisibin, and 18 hours from Mardin brings the traveller tp Diyar-Bekr. The
population of this'town is about 28,000 and an idea of its present trade may be
formed from the following custom-house return of imports:—
Piastres.
European manufactures, Constantinople- . » 2,500,000
Coffee and Sugar . * . • «. » • 200,000
Indigo and Indian piece goods .. « * 2,900,000
2,900,000 or £29,000 '
It has been stated by residents at Diyar-Bekr that this trade is. capable of being Probable
increased to- double the above amount. At Betlis also British calicoes are sold to “ 0^ 4er° ^ e
a moderate extent,, and there is some demand for shawls, woollen cloths, printed British artic]es
calicoes, gay-coloured silks and satins, and refined sugar. At Kara Hisar, Sivas, fademand
and T&kat, British manufactures are also in request The yellow berry is. culti-
vated here, and at the latter place an extensive dyeing establishment exists. The
articles most in demand here are British calicoes and muslin, printed cottons and
indigo. The copper from Arghana is refined here and transported to Samsun for Commerce
shipment. Here there is but a small consumption of foreign goods, although ^
much commercial activity exists from the transit of merchandise from and to-Con- Constantinople.'
stantinople. In four months the steamer brbught 2,480 packages for the interior,
and carried back 4,850 to Constantinople, the latter being wholly the produce of
the country. Another opening exists here for British trade, all the iron at present