Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/472



460 ORISSA. Trade.—The ports of Orissa are Balasor, False Point (Cuttack), Puri, and Chandbáli, together with several minor coasting ports. Rice and cotton piece-goods are the staples of Orissa trade. The total value of the sea-borne trade of Orissa, in 1883–84, import and export, was £1,608,282, namely, imports, £749,510, and exports, £858,772. Almost the whole of the import trade, and nearly 60 per cent. of the export trade, is with Calcutta, about 12 per cent of the whole trade being with other Indian ports, and about 20 per cent. of the export trade being with foreign ports not Indian. The chief articles of imports are European cotton twist and yarn (£148,059), Indian do. (£23,278), European cotion piece-goods (£101,900), Indian do. (£894), apparel (£49,163), gunny-bags (£49,724), metals (£81,305), oils (£17,837), spices (£18,861), areca-nuts (£29,960), tobacco (£20,691), and treasure (£91,103). The chief exports of Orissa are rice (£551,752), hides (£67,561), timber for railway sleepers (£9982), and lac (£11,556). Balasor is the leading District for rice exportation; number of tons exported from Balasur District (1883–84), 54,530 ; from Cuttack, 41,597 ; from Puri, 12,713. The rice of Balasor finds its largest market in Vlauritius, and the rice of Cuttack in Ceylon. The exports of Puri also mostly find their way to Ceylon. In 1883–84, the number of steam vessels that entered Balasor with cargo was 210, and of sailing vessels, 73 : cleared with cargo---steam vessels, 219, sailing vessels, 113: number of steam vessels entering Cuttack with cargo, 103 ; and of sailing vessels, 7 : cleared with cargo -steam vessels, 99; sailing vessels, 35: number of steam vessels entering Puri with cargo, 21; and of sailing vessels, 1: cleared with cargo-steam vessels, 32; sailing vessels, 2. Total vessels trading with Orissa ports in 1883-84–stean, 684 ; sailing, 231. Two steamers run weekly between Calcutta and Balasor, and four bi-weekly steamers connect Calcutta with Cuttack mâ Chandbalí. The traffic on the Orissa canals, down-stream, was valued at £374,652 in 1883–84; and up-stream, at £294,386 : total, £669,038. The number of laden boats on the canals was 7965. If Orissa has any mineral resources, they are as yet unworked. The only industry of the least importance is salt, which is manufactured mostly in Puri District, but generally throughout Orissa. Even the salt industry is not flourishing, and it is thought that Liverpool salt will eventually drive the native article from the market. Cuttack has some reputation for its gold and filigree work. Tea is not grown in Orissa, and the same may be said of indigo and cinchona. Communications.-Orissa has no railroads, and the general system of road communication is miserably deficient. The Province is thus exposed to the earliest and worst effects of famine. Only one