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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jan. I, 1898 . 
B. Imports. 
Bice.— The price of rice during the year ruled very 
high, gradually increasing from January t'll August, 
when it was dearest. Since then prices have been 
easier, and as the year closes good Kuruvi'ay is ob- 
tainable at B3‘80 per bushel in Colombo. 
Dry Goods.— Imports of Manchester and Continenta 
goods have been considerable. Exchange has been 
favourable to importers; and as the year closes with 
high exchange, dry goods may be expected to arrive 
on a fairly large scale during the first half of lo9o, 
and supplies will be ample tor all demands. 
Business was to some extent impeded during the 
latter half of this year owing to the slip on the 
Bailway line. In anticipation of “ Tivali” demand, 
upcountry dealers who came to Colombo for supplies, 
had in many instances to return without these being 
nnable to get them up in time for Tivali— thus to 
some extent a market was lost. The small cash 
balances due to coolies after deductions for rice have 
also tended to curtail the offtake. 
Estate Bequisites have on the average ruled low 
in price. ■ v 
Metals have been imported in fair supplies. 
Haberuasheky Goods. — A fair business has been 
done during the year. 
C. Shipping. 
With the exception of the closing prrt of the year, 
tonnage has been ample and on the average freights 
ruled low. Increased facilities for loading and un- 
loading at the wharf and jetties are urgently needed 
to expedite the despatch of steamers. The quantities 
discharged from and loaded into steamers— taken per 
hour of continuous work— compare unfavourably with 
former years. 
review of the general native 
TRADE 1899. 
(By a Sinhalese Trader.) 
The native trade in the Pettah during the past year, 
has been looking up, in spite of prices fluctuating, 
consequent on the rise and fall in the value of our 
rupee. Luckily for importers of European goods, ex- 
change rose opportunely, which enabled all Christ- 
mas goods to be placed at a reasonable value. A 
glance at the Main Street shops will convince one, 
that importations have been heavier than previous 
years. Some shops show better quality for instance in 
Drapery and Millinery, F. X. Perera’s have kept 
up their usual reputation for good quality, fair value, 
and politeness.—" The Diamond Jubilee Warehouse " 
which was opened during the celebrations of Her 
Majesty’s Diamond Reign is dressed in good style. 
Abdul Carrim also deserves mention for his usual 
display of superior goods, especially in Millinery 
and Drapery, and last, but not least, “ The Pettah 
Cash Drapery Warehouse ’’ owned by the general 
R S P’. established in 1893, though still in its infancy, 
has done well in following in the wake of her elder 
English sister— all goods imported, being of superior 
Quality and finish. 
’ gpiniTs AND Wines business has been brisk in good 
brands, but the market is glutted with spurious 
inferior rubbish which ought to be prohibited by the 
City Fathers. 
OiLMANSToBES.— Trade in this line has shown up 
well Importations have been heavy. Anstralian 
Produce is making headway. Germany is still push- 
ing her biscuits, dealers looking to cheapness rather 
than quality. Special mention may be made of A. 
Simon E’ernando as being the largest wholesale 
? algr and Cornelius Fernando and Sons may be 
reckoned the largest retailers. Messrs. V. P. Perera and 
Rons who established themselves about 32 years ago, 
have ’unfortunately collapsed ; some attribute failure 
to recent bad management. 
Lampwahb, Glassware, Hardware, Cement, Oils 
Paints &c., did a very big business during the year, 
at steady rates, caused by increased demands for 
building purposes. Germany has held her own in 
nearly all the above lines. 
Paper, Patent Medicines and Drugs’ Tr.ade.— In 
these lines have been very favourable. Steam’s V ines 
Scott's Emulsion, &c , making good headway. But 
the line, which showed the greatest activity, 
and assumed large proportions, was Paper of all 
descriptions. Here again German makes, espe- 
cially in printings and coloreds found great favor. 
Sorry to find that the Indian Paper Mills have 
fallen off considerably during the year. The Ba ly 
Mills were offering stocks on hand at cutting prices, 
but very little changed hands. 
Chinese and Japan goods : transactions were much 
restricted, a little passed in Canton matting. Paper 
lanterns were in great demand during the .Jubilee, 
but importations fell far short of demands. Fire 
crackers came into the market in large quantities and 
found good sale. 
Indian Products, Rice. — The demand during the 
year has been larger than ever, rates fluctuated daily 
for all kinds except Rangoon raw rice which was 
rather sluggish, owing to abundant supplies. Busi- 
ness done during the year was very steady. The 
Chetty firms almost monopolising the trade. Prices 
ran up to R 6 per bushel for Muttusamba. Supplies 
were up to demands. The high prices ruling may 
be attributed to short crops caused by long drought 
throughout India . 
Castor Oil, Castor Cake, Fish Manure, and Cat- 
tle Bones : next to Grain these form a very impor- 
tant importation, large business has been done with 
European Firms at steady prices, the trade being 
almost monopolised by the Tuticorin Tamils. 
Sugar. — Importations were heavy during the year, 
demands for the middle grades were great, but impor- 
tations were restricted owing to European importa. 
tions, German Granulated crushed has held the 
market firmly and bids fair to maintain its present 
position. Importations have been heavier than ever 
of the latter grade. 
Kerosine Oil. — Messrs. Carimjee Jaffei-jee are mono- 
polising the trade in oil. “Daylight” as usual found 
most favor, “ Sumatra’’ bids fair to do good business. 
The largest consumption has been in Russian Tank 
Oil. 
GraIn, Cotton Seed, &c. — T hese did a free sale as 
usual in spite of the heavy prices that ruled. 
Dry Fish and Maldive Pish : rates have been fully 
maintained and the bulk of the business in the former 
is in the hands of the Tuticorin Tamils. In the 
latter article the trade is almost entirely in the 
hands of Messrs. Carimjee Jafferjee, the Bom- 
bay merchants, who have the Maldivians 
sellers well in hand ; shipments arriving in their own 
schooners. The demand was great, stocks plentiful. 
Prices exorbitant ; a month or two ago rates ran up 
to R45. About four years ago Maldive-fish was sold 
at R14'50 per cwt. Monopoly is the only reason 
one can give for this unjustifiable raising of prices. 
Bombay and Calcutta Flour. — The Bombay Flour 
Mill Co.’s brands were to the front, landings heavy 
and the trade satisfactory ; but the Plague having 
broken out in Bombay, direct arrivals were nearly nil. 
The Bengal Flour Mills Co., did a fair trade. Im- 
portations from the former Company are now coming 
in freely and good business is being done in their 
brands. 
Sundry Indian Produce Curry Stuffs, Ac. — There 
was keen competition in these, but prices have been 
maintained. Chillies ruled at unheard-of prices, and 
Shellots or Red Onions were ditto. 
Exports. — Leading native firms did good business 
in Ceylon Produce, heavy consignments of Coconuts, 
Coconut Oil, Desiccated Coconuts, and a little Tea, 
Plumbago, &c., have been shipped to England and 
the Continent, Madras, Calcutta, Coconada and Singa- 
pore drew large shipments of oil. 
Native Journalism.— Success is still crowning the 
printers at Pettah. “ Srilankodaya,” another native 
journal, has come into existence during the year 
under review, and one ov two other magazine?, ; 
