Report No.67 of 1863 detailing the tribes, trades and resources of the Gulf Littoral [‎7v] (14/58)

work continuously now without pay), he might, in three or four years, render the
country more flourishing than it was under the sons of Timour Lang."
72. To return: as illustrative of the manner in which trade meets, competes,
and finds its level at points along the line towards which that of Bunder Abbass
naturally flows, I may mention that when I was at Herat in 1860-61,1 found piece
goods from the Teheran and Candahar lines, bearing their respective English and
Russian marks, competing on the same counter, in the Herat Bazaar; and their
respective qualities severely criticized by the Traders. They seemed, on the
whole, to prefer the Teheran goods, but those from India were cheaper. True,
it was surmised that, the Teheran goods came originally, in greatest part, from
England. Again, I found Russian brick tea, meeting tea from all other quarters;
and commanding the highest price as the best in the Market. The retailers told
me, Kurrachee tea was driving a hard bargain with others to maintain their ground;
but the retailers added that some tea had. arrived from Kurrachee, during the
preceding year, not in boxes like the Bombay tea, but in small packets, and that
this latter was so execrable, as to have injured the general repute of Kurrachee
borne teas. I was puzzled at the moment to distinguish the tea in question, but
it was practically explained to me on subsequent arrival at Kurrachee, that tea
was brought to Sind in packets, for the use of troops and others; that this tea,
after being drunk by the Soldiers, was recollected, dried, and repacked, in the old
packets, by the barrack boys; and then sold in the Kurrachee Bazar for a mere
song, to be exported via the Candahar line. Again, I found some stick Opium
of excellent quality from Ghayn, and on showing it at Bombay, attention was
drawn to the circumstance via the Gulf, and a considerable trade from the Ghayn
direction has since sprung up. I was struck all along the route of North Persia
with the unvarying presence of the Russian lumbersome tea-urn (Samawar)
brought from the great Fairs beyond the Caspian; would it not be possible to bring
into competition with it a lighter, handier article ?
73. That Bunder Abbass is situate in a position, favorable for trade, is, in
some degree to be inferred from the history of the neighbouring island of Ormuz.
Xo island could possibly look more unpromising. It is, in brief, a confused
looking mass of spongy earth mounds, and saline efflorescence. Yet, under
European management, in times gone by, it was described as follows:
"Instamond in his history of the East Indies says:—At the mouth of the
Strait of Mocandon, which leads into the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , lies the island of Gombroon.
In the eleventh century an Arabian conqueror built upon this barren rock the
city of Ormuz, which afterwards became the capital of an empire, comprehending
a considerable portion of Arabia on one side, and of Persia on the other. Ormuz
had two good harbours, and was large and well fortified; its riches, and strength
were entirely owing to its situation. It was the centre of trade between Persia
and the Indies, which was very considerable, if we remember that the Persians
at that time caused the greatest part of the merchandize of Asia to be conveyed
to Europe from the ports of Syria and Caffa. At the time of the arrival of the
Foreign merchants, Ormuz afforded a more splendid and agreeable scene than
any city in the East. Persons from all parts of the Globe exchanged their
commodities, and transacted their business with an air of politeness and attention,
which are seldom seen in other places of trade.
u These manners were introduced by the merchants belonging to the ports,
who induced Foreigners to imitate their affability. Their address, the regularity
of their police, and the variety of entertainments which their city afforded, joined
to the interests of commerce, invited merchants to make it a "place of resort.
Hie pavement of the streets was covered with mats, and in some places with
carpets; and the linen awnings which were suspended from the tops of houses
prevented any inconvenience from the heat of the sun. Indian cabinets orna
mented with gilded vases, or China filled with flowering shrubs or aromatic plants,
adorned their apartments; camels, laden with water, were stationed in the public
squares; Persian wines, perfumes, and all the delicacies of the table were
furnished in the greatest abundance; and thev had the music of the East in its