47 
96, 
Annual Series, No. 1671), with particulars of the wth of 
date palms in that region, was published in the K. un (1896, 
The following interesting * Memorandum on the Bussorah Date 
Season of 1897," prepared by Consul L. A. Forbes (F. O., 1898, 
Miscellaneous Series , No. 448), iini important information 
respecting one of the principal sources whence the dates of 
commerce are obtained :— 
Considering the popularity of the fruit of the Date palm (Phenix 
dactylifei a), particularly among the juvenile portion of all classes 
e United Kingdom, it is somewhat pr ising xe few even of 
TRR who have received diaa poss ny wledge as to 
the places from which the sweet and aoa POE CHE is exported. 
The popular idea is generally found to be represented bya solitary 
palm tree near a well, or by a score of such trees in an oasis o 
rest with countless palm trees. When it is considered fe the 
palm tree and its products can- be utilised for many more than a 
hundred different purposes by the natives of the uus where 
and trade connected with its cuiere and the export of its fruit. 
The largest export of dates in the world takes place from 
ki : 
Shutt-el-Arab, which is the river formed by the combined waters 
of the rivers Tigris and erae; ; other ports which compete 
with it in this reped: are Maskat, on the western shore of the 
Gulf of Oman, T angier, and some ports of Tunis. 
The date season in Bussorah begins, according to the earliness 
and lasts six or eight weeks. The crop was ready for pone 
this year about the Sita nic viz., the middle of Septembe 
buyers. This meeting or conference is generally held as soon as 
the dates are ready for packing, but this year it was considerably 
postponed with a view to obtaining reasonable terms with the 
owners of the dates by showing them that exporters were in no 
hurry, and were not eager to obtain dates at very high prices. 
Nevertheless, the ara shippers and some even of the leading 
exporters i n thei great anxiety to secure their requirements and 
commence dicht paid high prices ut xe dates. e first 
(the best packing date); 280 shamis ees £16 9s.) for 
"khedrawis" (the second qualit and 180 shamis (about 
r4 
£17 13s., and ell 5s. iecur are said to have been give en 
for the three Grus respectively. 
* 17 shamis are equal to about £1 sterling. 
1 1 oke equal to about 23 lbs. aver 
