183 REPORT — 1859. 



enjoys an advantage over foreign woollens only in low-priced fabrics, ranging not 

 higher than 5s. Q\d. per yard. With foreign cloths above that price she cannot com- 

 pete; and the finer the material, the greater the difference in the relative cost of pro- 

 duction. Prepared with the sole view of cheapness, these cloths are purchased at 

 Nijni-Novgorod fair at Is. Wd., 2s. 8d., and not higher than 3s. 10</. per yard, in 

 pieces of 17 yards, of a breadth of 1£ yard. The principal colours are crimson, green, 

 violet, olive, and light-blue. In Bukhara, cloth fetches £3 12s. to £4 16s. per piece 

 of 20 yards. Between 1840 and 1850 the Russian exportation of woollen manufac- 

 tures amounted to 485,875 yards, at an average price of 3s. 



The remaining items in the Russian export trade to the countries of Central Asia 

 are, manufactures in silk, leather, skins, furs, sugar, and other miscellaneous manu- 

 factures and small wares. Among the latter, special mention may be made of small 

 mirrors, rouge, and violet powder. 



In return, Russia obtains raw cotton, cotton yam, and some native manufactures in 

 cotton, consurned by the Mahomedan population and the inhabitants of the south-eastern 

 portions of the empire. It is a striking fact, that the Russian demand for these native 

 manufactures is three times the value of the Asiatic importations of Russian cottons. 

 The cotton of Kokan has a staple about - 875 inch in length ; the Bukharian has an 

 average length staple, and that of Khiva is more than If inch long. When the 

 crop is good, cotton wool may be purchased in Khiva at 10s. Ad. per cwt., and in 

 Tashkend and Bukhara at 18s. 9d. When the crops fail, these prices run to 3 Is. and 

 46s. 8d. per cwt. The total value of cotton, in a raw state and manufactured, im- 

 ported into Russia from Central Asia between 1840 and 1850, not including the 

 quantity yearly smuggled, amounted to £1,013,954, or nearly the value of the total 

 exportations from Russia, inclusive even of specie. The other items are silk, raw and 

 manufactured; colours and dye-stuffs, of which the most important are madder, in- 

 digo, and lapis lazuli ; precious stones and pearls ; and other miscellaneous articles, 

 such as dried fruits and sweetmeats, rice, pepper, and semen-contra. 



The following comparative statement shows the growth and importance of the 

 trade : — 



Exportations to Central Asia in 1849... £102,203 

 „ „ 1857... 182,039 



increase £79,836, or 78 per cent. 



Importations: 1849. 1857. 



From Bukhara £79,466 £213,720 



„ Khiva 23,143 43,578 



„ Kokan 81,427 118,907 



£184,036 £376,205 increase £192,169, or 104 percent. 



The Resources of Eastern Africa. By J. Lyons M'Leod, F.R.G.S. 



Commencing from the eastern limit of the British colony of Natal, the author fol- 

 lows the coast-line to Cape Guardafui, and thence up the Red Sea to the port of 

 Arsinoe or Suez. 



After leaving the limits of the Colony of Natal, the first port which attracts atten- 

 tion is that of Port St. Lucia, in latitude 28° 26' S. and longitude 32° 26' E. 



This port is admirably adapted for throwing supplies of ammunition and also useful 

 commodities into the Zulu country, from which they are carried into the Orange Free 

 State and Trans-vaal Republic, thereby eluding the customs' dues payable at the Cape 

 of Good Hope and Natal. 



A considerable trade of this description is already established by several mercantile 

 houses at the Cape of Good Hope ; and, this fact having become known in the City 

 of London, merchants are naturally inquiring what articles of trade are suitable for a 

 port where no duties whatever are levied, and where the returns of ivory, hides, horns, 

 and hoofs are immediate. 



As the colony of the Cape of Good Hope pays annually to the Boers £5000 

 sterling as compensation for the duties levied on commodities passing through that 

 colony to the Orange Free State and Trans-vaal Republic, it is natural to expect 



