Page:Provincial geographies of India (Volume 4).djvu/172

156 ports reached the respectable total of over £100,000,000, the highest recorded in the history of the Province.

Imports. Although Burma produces all that is necessary to support life in health and to maintain a reasonably high standard of comfort, goods to the value of over £44,000,000 were imported. Most freely sent by foreign countries and India are cotton, twist and yarn, and manufactured; into Rangoon alone these imports were valued at over £7,500,000 (foreign) and over £5,250,000 (Indian). Imported piece goods from Europe and Japan compete successfully with local manufactures. Silk to the value of over £800,000 came chiefly, in the raw state, from China, manufactured, from Japan. The revival of silk-weaving increases the demand for raw silk which the local production is insufficient to supply. Woollen goods, mostly manufactured, came to the value of over £600,000; about four-fifths from the United Kingdom, Japan and Holland being the next large contributors. India sent jute manufactures to the value of nearly £2,000,000.

Liquors have always been poured in profusely; probably their use among the native population is increasing. In the year before the War, over 1,600,000 gallons were imported; then naturally the quantity declined; but there has been a gradual revival; and last year 760,463 gallons of all kinds of alcoholic liquors, mostly ale, beer, and porter, valued at nearly £600,000 came to Rangoon.

Metals, principally iron and steel, but including also zinc, brass, copper, tin and lead, were imported to the value of over £4,000,000; while machinery, mill work and hardware came in to the value of over £3,000,000. Motor cars have become very popular; over 1200, valued at above £830,000, were imported. America sends most of these, but cars of English make come in rising numbers.

Other imports include salt, grain and pulse, coal, tobacco, mineral oils, earthenware, glass, matches, soap, and