Trade for
eight years.
6
The general course of the trade of Burma with Western China, the North Shan States, and the South Shan States since 1890-91 is exhibited in the following table:-
TABLE I.
Exports and Imports for eight Years (in tens of Rupees).
Trade with North Shan States.
Western China:
1890-01. 1891-92. 1892-93. | 1893–94. 1894-95. 1895-96.
1896-97. 1997-98.
8
TABLE IV.
Exports to the North Shan States (in tens of Rupees).
548
559
Cotton Twist
Cotton Pisce
and Yarn.
Goods.
Year,
Euro-
Lutian.
pean.
Euro pean,
Indian.
Pro-
visions.
Miscel- Metala Manu- Wool Blaneous and
Other Salt. To-
len
Maon Manu Mer Tree- tured
fac- fac. chun. bacco. Silk. Goods, tured tares disc. sure.
Goods. of.
Total.
Exports Imports
Total -
108,749 104,539 93,644 136,480 277,440 151,730 240,784
53,435 46,358 62,042 171,565 239,207 133,320 135,010 147,803 162,184 150,875 155,686 308,045 506,637 285,050 395,794 356,938
209,085
1890-1
10,628
1,402
North Shan States :-
Exports Imports
Total
134,822 210,809
945,681
148,542 137,062 164,691 228,842 240,084 238,918 268,570 300,595
388,626 370,980
433,261 529,437
216,504 252,779
251,926 282,923
277,265
2895-6
365,709
469,233 534,849
642,974
1831-2 8,190 5.501
1892-3
10,494 4,602
1893-4 0,975 12,970
1894-0 3.204 17,022
8,668 6,312
1606-7 8,950 30,109
1897-8 11,520 8,510 40,449
$1.98%
49.89%
35,781
125 $8,834 22,027 5.737 4,075
7,130
19,583
54.983
46 23,834 18,562 4.925 8,300
45,124 2,010 52,173 19,492 7,388
45.013 2,038 $9,691
5,912
45.803 6,707 20,10% 10,490 6,466 19,266 1,558 14.17% 4.50€ 22.€75
6,418 53.009 23,204 5377 17,652 2,544 15,870 4,27% 21,399 67,105 277,235
200 24,416 EAST 2.789 7.022 5,223 6,100 3,799 6,978 345 154,822 400 23,725 22,897 5,307 7,746 4,670 7,805 3,003 5,388 1,367 145,542 2,842 8,902 9,173 7,274 5,416 137,062
3,431 8,849 4,401 10,780 3.177 164,691
5,418 8,975 3,150 14,718 49,121 228,842 7,779 4,250 10,780 3,927 15,138 47.989 216,504
46,948 251,926
Causes of growth.
Direct trade with Western China,
South Shan States :-
Exports Imports
Total -
28,121 25,821 119,295 108,881 266,310 327,811 450,825 462,051 18,327 20,001 110,234 114,096 284,765 276,111 477,869 479,610
46,448 45,902 222,529 222,977 331,075 603,922 928,695 935,961
The figures in the above table reveal, on the whole, a strong upward tendency. Although the increase may be partly ascribed [to more perfect registration, other important factors must be taken into account-some, being temporary vicissitudes of trade, and others certain special influences affecting frontier transactions. In the earlier years trade was restricted by the exorbitant levies of various chiefs through whose territories the caravans have to pass. In 1893-94 the exactions of Chinese officials were moderated by a reduction of duties, while the tolls levied by the Kachins in the Bhamo district on the Nampaung route were abolished on 1st February 1897. In 1892-93 there was an outbreak of cholera, and the depredations of the Kachins and other tribes, long a source of terror to traders, seriously affected commercial intercourse. The subsequent abatement of these disturbances to traffic, with the increased security to person and property, has given more confidence to Chinese merchants and induced a larger trade in more recent years. Besides the abolition of tolls and the enhanced safety of trade routes, other reported causes of the growth in trade are the improved communications with, and the increasing prosperity of, the Shan States, and the construction of works in connection with the Mandalay-Kunlon Railway beyond Maymyo. The decline in trade in 1897-98 is said to be in part due to the fear of the Chinese that the Burma-China Boundary Commission of last year was preparatory to a war, but it is in part only apparent, for the stream of traffic has been diverted from Bhamo to Myitkyina since the railway reached the latter town, where no registration station has yet been established.
The appended tables show the commodities that make up this trade:-
TABLE II.
Exports to Western China (in tens of Rupees).
Cotton Twist Cotton Piece
and Yarn.
Goods.
Year.
Raw
Cotton.
Pro-
visions.
Salt.
Euro-
pear.
Indian.
Euro. pean.
Indian.
Manu- Wool- Jade
fac-
len Stone. thred
Goods. Silk.
Other
Mer-
chan- sure.
dise.
'Trea-
1895-6 57,684
1896-7 00,941
1890-1 92,633 466 1,009 4,000 100 1,600 33.1 1891-2 74,839 1,066 6,177 14,026 946 2,864 1,665
840 1892-3 05,750 200 7,278 12,898 470
1,6091,460 810 377 1393-4 75,356 1,247 8,696 26,316 1,101 3,993 958 5,461 981 1894-5 100,145 1,166 16,538 37,577 2,137 7,834 4,166 5,9608,460 1,84717,523 | 27,799 6,497 4,902 5,254 2,881 1,621 5,618 | 58,855 83,201 1,481 13,8295,502 2,395 5,642 1897-8 85,068 4,853 62,813 | 19,196 1,278
0
0
0 1,150
45 2,071
956 1,755
5,569 6,677 2,650
817
Total.
0108,749
01 104,639 70 93,644 4,565 5,493 2,328 186,480 9,547 7,195 76,685 277,480 4,454 7,600 13,659 | 151,750 97212.278 10,570 240,781 1,348 7,203 5,613 | 209,085
TABLE V.
Imports from the North Shan States (in tens of Rupees).
Year.
Hitles, Living
Huruz, Animals. visions. &c.
Pro-
Lac. Ricc. Tea.
Miscel- Oil Precious! taneous
Vamanu- Seeds. Stones. factured
Goads.
Other Mer- chau-
'Trea-
Tots.
sure. dise.
1890-1
1896-7 1897-8
10,427 115,016 1,307 766 7,184 9,695 1,380 9,890 102,412 1,906 1,026 19,826 21,390 1,688 1892-3 10,858 108,361 3,056 1,789 13,659 18,907
1,242 1893-4 12,858 141,310 6,112 864 11,80716,746 1894-5 8,629 141,903 3,106 3,342 5,16325,003 2,575 1895-6 5,012 115,953 1,835 5,518 6,555 21,046 2,684 7,566 5,005 84,979 837 2,53616,319 23,244 8,058 7,885 8,957 150,654 3,152 1,615 12,904 33,859 11,765 15,039
0
0
0
18,188 5,903 41,948 210,809 29,239 11,440 47,567 240,084 28,241
769
0
17.467
9,685
1801-2
10,040 31,970 238,918
9,790 51,863 268,570 10,230 7,329 $3,630300,595
9,230 6,000 71,980 252,779 11,952 28,109 93,899 282,923 14,874 15,307 93,090 365,709
As already remarked, no information is available as to the proportion of the trade with the Shan States that passes through to Western China. Among exports to the North Shan States cotton twist and yarn and piece goods are the most important, but the colton trade does not tend upward. Indian and European yarns have on the whole kept pace with each other despite yearly fluctuations, but in picce goods the products of European looms are easily first, though Indian goods have improved their position in the last four years. In the Report on the Administration of the Shan States for 1895-96, it is observed that certain classes of Continental goods are obtaining a greater hold in the Shan markets. In the cheaper kinds of calico German goods are seen as often as, if not more often than, Manchester articles. The usual explanation is given, that the Continental merchants more carefully adapt themselves to the special demands of consumers. But the better classes of drills, &c., in bazaars are always Manchester goods, only the low-priced articles bearing Continental marks. Although the more expensive stuffs may be far superior in quality, the Shans, from poverty and ignorance combined, purchase the inferior goods. Similar remarks are applicable to cheap finery and fancy hardware, which often hear German and Belgian marks. The Kachins are said to be discarding home-made cloths in favour of imported calico and other cotton goods. An increase in piece goods may therefore be anticipated. The trade in provisions (chiefly salted and dried fish) is fast becoming as important as that in cotton goods. Silk and other manufactured goods show a satisfactory growth, and salt and tobacco hold a good position. With regard to imports, provisions of various kinds constitute the chief branch, and this trade, after a temporary decline, is growing. The
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