The movement of the principal imports and exports in the closing years of his reign is given on pp. 292, 293.

Under pressure of financial difficulties arising from debts contracted by his father for the supply of military stores and equipment, the development of public works and a host of minor obligations, Habib Ullah was compelled to reconsider his economic position. Accepting the situation on its merits, during the first year of his reign he remitted certain duties and lowered the transit charges on “through” caravans, in respect of indigo and tea, to the equivalent of 2½ per cent. ad valorem duty. This impost upon tea works out at the rate of 7 pies per pound, but the tax on tea intended for the markets of Afghanistan is much higher. This is returned at 125 rupees per camel-load of 360 pounds, thereby levying a charge of 5 annas against each pound which, although an exceedingly high rate, compares not unfavourably with the crushing Customs dues on the Russian frontier and the tax in England. A revival of the demand in Afghanistan for tea grown in India has shown itself during the past year or two; and, undoubtedly, if the import duty were lowered the Afghans would become better customers, especially for the green variety, which they most favour. If the Amir could be convinced that a smaller duty would involve no loss of revenue, owing to larger imports, a reduction of the tariff might possibly be sanctioned.

TABLE SHOWING PRINCIPAL IMPORTS AND EXPORTS IN CLOSING YEARSOF THE REIGN OF ABDUR RAHMAN
1892-93. 1893-94. 1894-95. 1895-96. 1896-97. 1897-98. 1898-99. 1899-1900.
Imports. Rupees. Rupees. Rupees. Rupees. Rupees. Rupees. Not specified Not specified
Horses, ponies, mules 16,200 27,079 18,759 32,540 11,955 2,275
Drugs and medicines 14,849 11,320 11,962 9,661 2,258 7,766
Fruits, etc. 98,353 60,198 56,502 46,422 51,709 30,854
Hides, skins, and leather 13,788 17,943 14,019 17,775 19,416 8,895
Ghee 35,088 24,900 20,086 17,042 19,475 24,444
Wool, raw and manufactured 15,023 2,908 11,927 13,961 11,445 17,003
Exports.
Cotton yarn 5,215 6,083 8,674 11,530 11,088 6,537
 ”  piece-goods 430,978 275,235 151,400 172,488 145,082 203,444
Dyeing materials 10,552 9,004 15,218 17,823 15,512 6,986
Leather 14,433 10,446 7,599 15,251 5,800 3,914
Brass, copper and iron 14,945 12,404 11,421 11,688 23,209 7,026
Sugar 15,055 15,714 10,228 8,895 10,569 8,672
Tea 99,874 61,112 45,097 27,129 35,770 15,860

TABLE SHOWING IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF NORTHERN AND EASTERN AFGHANISTAN FOR THE YEARS 1892-1900

Imports Exports Combined
values
1892-93. Rupees. 220,850 610,501 831,351
1893-94. Rupees. 188,831 405,215 594,046
1894-95. Rupees. 160,400 267,365 427,765
1895-96. Rupees. 165,003 306,233 471,236
1896-97. Rupees. 151,538 290,163 441,701
1897-98. Rupees. 129,110 274,638 403,748
1898-99. Rupees. 217,325 294,605 511,840
1899-1900. Rupees. not specified 442,087

TABLE SHOWING IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF SOUTHERN AND WESTERN AFGHANISTAN FOR THE YEARS 1892-1900

Imports Exports Combined
values
1892-93. Rupees. 234,428 297,657 532,085
1893-94. Rupees. 335,849 328,172 644,021
1894-95. Rupees. 299,090 309,762 608,852
1895-96. Rupees. 410,541 257,002 667,543
1896-97. Rupees. 418,405 227,375 645,781
1897-98. Rupees. 309,299 163,758 473,084
1898-99. Rupees. 329,917 263,884 503,801
1899-1900. Rupees. not specified 714,318

On the whole the fiscal policy of the present Amir encourages the belief that, in time, many of the existing obstacles to free commercial intercourse with India will be removed. The small benefits already offered to Indian merchants have produced immediate response and the prospect of further concessions is widely appreciated. Trade exports from Kabul during 1904-05 alone increased by 25 lakhs of rupees, the volume of trade proceeding from Kandahar showing an improvement no less emphatic. The total value of exports and imports combined, since indications of a more liberal fiscal policy first were manifested, in lakhs of rupees, is shown in the following table:

1900-01.1901-02.1902-03.1903-04.1904-05.
Lakhs.Lakhs.Lakhs.Lakhs.Lakhs.
Southern and Western Afghanistan58.1968.5453.4868.0276.53
Northern and Eastern Afghanistan48.0161.0063.9970.5695.36

The values of the principal imports from Kabul during 1904-05 were fruits and nuts, 7.9 lakhs; animals (horses, sheep, and goats), 4.4 lakhs; hides (including skins) and ghee, each about 2½ lakhs, the total being 26 lakhs as in the previous year. Exports during 1904-05 improved by 25 lakhs to 69⅓ lakhs. Cattle, sheep, and goats accounted for 8⅘ lakhs of this increase. Cotton fabrics, valued at 38⅓ lakhs (more than two-thirds being of foreign manufacture), increased by 12½ lakhs. The other principal articles were cotton yarn (mostly foreign), 3.2 lakhs, and leather, 2.5 lakhs. The exports of tea (nearly all green tea) were 397,265 pounds Indian, value 1.5 lakhs, 300,384 pounds foreign, value 3.1 lakhs. Among imports from Kandahar during 1904-05, valued at 40⅕ lakhs, were raw wool, 18.8 lakhs; fruits and nuts, 12.2 lakhs; and ghee, 2.6 lakhs, in all of which there has been a larger trade. The exports during 1904-05 reached 36⅓ lakhs, the two principal articles—Indian cottons, 14.7 lakhs, and foreign piece-goods, 10 lakhs—both showing an improvement.