6
The figures for the last three years show the export of mostly scoured wool, while the preceding figures refer to greasy wool. The export of scoured wool, being in the hands of the two dealers mentioned, who thus have a practical monopoly, could, under freer competition, be largely extended. The total export of wool and woollen goods is as follows:-
In 1893 to the value of
1894
13
1896
**
1899
15
1900
1902
1904 1905
Roubles.
218.500
455,779
290,309
472,060
381,774
648,358
498,566
451,481
7
The following Tables are appended to the Report:--
RUSSIAN Trade with Chinese Turkestan from 1882 to 1905.
Year.
Exports from Kashgaris* to Russia.
Imports from Russia
to Kashgaria,
Roubles.
Roubles.
800,343
560,219
1,360,023
838,781
1,018,067
808,183
1,178.241
994,254
1,045,556
886,407
1,252,314
845,406
1,895,334
1,304,016
1,786,052
1,322,477
2,235,999
1,260,949
2,411,259
1,755,753
2,572,393
1,726,479
2,988,757
1,715,068
3,549,550
2,315,228
2,924,261
1,899,680
2,914,312
2,929,107
1,835,936
2,089,804
1882
1883
1984
1891
1892
1898
1894
1895
1896
1897
1899
1900
1901
Of
1902
1904
1905
Mineral Resources,--Turning to the mineral resources of the country, the author, differing, as he says, from the very superficial accounts of certain European travellers, states that the immense mineral wealth to which they allude remains so far for the greater part undiscovered, or at least unexploited. Mining is in its initial stage only, though for a century past it has been pursued in some form or another. Of metals, gold, silver, copper, lead, and iron are extracted, and of minerals, alum, sal-ammoniac, sulphur, saltpetre, sait, coal, asphalt, alabaster, and, to a certain extent, asbestos. late, some naphtha sources have been discovered, it is said, but not exploited. So far as these mineral resources are exploited at all, it is but very primitively and very superficially. The extraction of precious metals, as forming Crown regalia, is under strict official surveillance.
Gold.-Gold is extracted exclusively by hand-washing, and the percentage of gold is very inconsiderable, the gold-bearing districts being in the Keria and Khotan regions. The total annual yield from these regions does not exceed 12 pouds (1 poud 526-645 ounces Troy), valued at 240,000 roubles. Formerly a secret contraband trade in gold was carried on with India, even, it is said, to the extent of half the total yield, but with the fall of prices for gold in Indian markets these transactions have ceased, the whole yield now reaching the Chinese Treasury. Besides the above deposits, golà is found, too, in the Yarkend district, along the Yarkend-Daria, in the northern parts of Kashgaria, in the Kutchar district, and in other localities.
Copper-Copper is found and extracted near Kashgar, in the valley of the Kizel-Su, and not far from the towns of Aksu and Kutchar. The first-named locality yields the larger quantity, giving some 9,000 pouds, or about 1,200,000 roubles annually. The Aksu mines are by now prettly well exhausted. Copper goes partly to the Crown, mostly for coinage purposes, and partly is converted into various domestic utensils, &c.
Other Metals.-The yield of other metals is very inconsiderable. Though coal is found in the Kashgar, Yiangi-Gissar, Yarkend, Aksu, and Kutchar regions, it is hardly exploited at all, and then in but exceedingly primitive fashion. Nevertheless the coal
is of good quality.
Conclusion.The trade balance returns between Russian and Kashgaria during the last twenty-four years, with the exception of the two last, invariably balanced in favour of the export from Kashgaria to Russia, this export exceeding the import from Russia by about one third of the total trade. The reason is the ignorance of the country generally on the part of the Russian merchants, who pursue purely exclusively personal ends in their trade dealings with Kashgaria, and trade exclusively through natives. Lately, a special custom-house and a branch of the Russo-Chinese Bank bave been opened at Kashgar for the facilitation of trade operations. Kashgar still remains without telegraphic communications with the frontier trading points. Postal and road communications are likewise most unsatisfactory. The author dwells at considerable length on the difficulties and peculiarities of the road communications by which the interchange of goods with the Fergan and Semiretch-Russian territories is effected.
Fresh fruits..
Dried fruits..
Brick tea
Green tea, first sort
Big hides, undressed
Big hides, dressed
Butter
Sheep fat
Intestines
Copper goods
* Le., Chinese Turkestan.
EXPORTS from Kashgariat to Russia in 1905.
Via Narin.
Via Irkeshtam.
Pouds.t
10
Roubles.
35
louds.†
Roubles.
207
636
284
1,635
2
65
90
2,600
10
..
120
1,500
1,099
13,000
Small hides, undressed
26
900
549
8,830
879
9,677
Small hides, dresse
2
100
86
1,370
Leather boots and shoes
6
60
55
1,140
Lambskins ..
17
1,400
26
180
89
518
338
8,200
ཱ་
100
23
877
Wooden goods
3
10
Porcelain goods
33
25
Raw cotton..
269
1,910
28,678
223,275
Wool, scoured
832
3,990
20,483
281,700
167
1,030
654
80,600
400
1,348
1,615
10
..
5,765
Cotton tissues, bleached
53
850
51,105
739,550
Cotton tissues, dyed
82
2,000
864
14,420
Felt
15
13,804
148,600
Ready-made clothing ("kbalats
1
15
304
5,560
Fur clothing
1,059
18,445
Sheepskins ..
160
4,425
4,130
80,713
Woollen yarn
22
350
Woollen belts
Carried forward
1,198
25,950
1,281
18,010
1,227,379
1,626,045
Wool, unscoured Raw silk
Silk cocoons
-
Silk combings
Silk tissues..
†, Chinese Turkestan,
1 poud = 36.112 lbs.; 62 pouds Izon (approximat ),
91