Page:Provincial geographies of India (Volume 4).djvu/174

158 was sent out in 1921–22. Last year the export of lead rose to nearly 25,000 tons valued at about £1,000,000 and 3000 tons of zinc, valued at £22,600, were sent to Belgium. All the jadeite, nearly 4500 cwt., valued at £164,000, goes to China.

During the War and for a year or two after there was a brisk trade in hides and skins. But of late there has been a serious decline. In 1920–21, the value was only about £250,000 as compared with over £1,000,000 in the preceding year. There was a further decline in 1921–22.

From 7000 to 14,000 tons of raw cotton are exported yearly, the quantity varying with the harvest. Last year only 9000 tons, valued at £1,125,000, were exported from Rangoon. Most of the cotton goes to the United Kingdom but Japan is an intermittent purchaser, taking 33 tons in 1916–17, 6461 tons in 1919–20, and 2889 tons in 1920–21. China took 1200 tons by sea and rather more overland.

Of agricultural products other than rice, ground nuts and their subsidiaries are important, though the export trade is not nearly so good as before the War. Last year, of the estimated crop of 117,630 tons, hardly 5000 tons were exported, mostly to the United Kingdom. Of ground-nut oil the exports vary in a surprising way from year to year. For example, Rangoon exported to foreign ports in 1919–20 over 600,000 gallons valued at £230,000; last year, less than 50,000 gallons worth about £17,000. Similarly the quantity and value of ground-nut oil-cake (30,000 tons and £300,000) were far less than in previous years. In beans, there is still, in spite of a recent fall, a large trade, much more flourishing than before the War. In 1919–20, over 100,000 tons, valued at nearly £2,000,000, were sent to foreign countries. Last year, the quantity was only about 33,000 tons and the value not much over £400,000. But India also takes substantial quantities.

Among other miscellaneous articles of export may be mentioned rubber (about 1800 tons.); cutch; and lac.

The British Empire still contributes the bulk of the