152 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — INDIA AND DEPENDENCIES In the year ending March 31, 1898, the sea-borne external trade of India (private and Government) was as follows, in tens of rupees : —
— Imports Exports Merchandise . Treasure Total Rx. 73,660,460 20,530;617 Rx. 97,632,781 i 7,148,647 i 94,191,077 104,781,428 1
The following shows (in tens of rupees) the total imports and exports of India, divided into merchandise and ' treasure ' (bullion specie), excluding Government stores and Government treasure, in the fiscal years fending March 31, 1885, and the last five years : —
Imports Years ended March 31 Merchandise Treasure Total Rx. Rx. Rx. 1885 53,149,311 13,878,847 67,028,158 1894 73,956,957 18,425,256 92,382,213 1895 70,167,438 9,559,007 79,726,445 1896 69,316.395 13,358,985 82,675,380 1897 71,914,697 13,075,353 84,990,050 1898 69,420,120 20,476,286 89,896,406
Years ended March 31 Exports and Re-Exports * Merchandise Treasure Total 1885 1S94 1895 1896 1897 1898 Rx. 83,200,528 100,447,590 108,814,999 114,203,140 103,914,297 97,537,273 Rx. 1,887,330 4,024,737 8,158,017 4,232,301 4,925,891 7,134,109 Rx. 85,087,858 110,472,327 1 110,973,010 1 118,495,441 108,840,188 104,071,442
- The returns of quantities and vaUu-s of inii)orts and of oxiutrts are based on the bills of
entry and shipping bills respectively, but the declarations conlained in these documents are subject to scrutiny in all cases, and penalties may be intiicted where they are found to be false. The value is the wholesale value at the place of imjKn-t or export, less trade dis- count, duty not being included in the value of dutiable goods. The returns show, not the prime origin of imports and ultimate destination of exports, but only the countries whence the goods were shipped to India and to which they are sliipi)ed from India, as disclosed by the shipping documents. No distinction is maintained between general, special, and transit trade ; but goods of foreign origin, when re-exported, are shown in detail separately from those of Indian origin. Apart from the comparatively insigniticant imports and exports by parcel post, of which only the total values are known, there are no special circumstances which afifect the value of the statistical results.
