Wheat corneres

[pars]

Dear all:

What is the meaning of the words in bold in the following passage? It is from the book Anglo-Iranian relations since 1800, edited by Vanessa Martin, p. 112:

More than ever, the main function of the Brigade had become that of a Russianizing agency. All the members of the Brigade, Iranians as well as Russians, enjoyed Russian protection, and under that cover many abuses were committed. The treasuer_General considered them to be among the worst of the wheat cornerers, as his men were unable to control caravans conveyed by Cossacks.

Note: The Brigade was mainly consisting of Russian Cossacks as well as some iranian forces.

Thanks a million.

 

[teechar]

Take a look at the second definition in the link below:

corner the market

1. If a company corners the market in a particular type of product, it is more…

dictionary.cambridge.org

Thus, a cornerer is someone who "controls the available supply ... etc.".

By the way, it's an old word, and I doubt if you'll encounter it in current English usage.

 

[5jj]

They controlled a (near) monopoly of the wheat market.

(cross-posted)