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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [47v] (93/949)
The record is made up of 1 file (475 folios). It was created in 7 Nov 1901-23 Aug 1905. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
60 REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
Goods declared for transit are warehoused at
the Customs, after which dues are—
Per day up to 7 days, 1 raij piastre per day
From 7th to 14th day, 2 „ ” C
„ 14th to 21st „ 3 „ „ )
Bagdad free for 30 days in
Per package not exceeding
112 kilos.
Per package not exceeding 224 kilos, double the above rates.
,, exceeding 224 kilos, treble the above rates.
Traders can hire godowns from the Customs at a monthly rent on more
moderate terms.
The importers sell to the native merchants trading with Persia, but many
native merchants, particularly Jews, deal direct with Manchester.
There are two caravan routes to Kermanshah— via Khanikin and vid
Mendeli. The latter is not used, being considered unsafe.
On the Khanikin route there is a wagon service for passengers as far as
Shahraban (58 miles), and a good wagon road could be made to the frontier
at moderate expense
Transport of merchandise is by mule caravan in winter. Rates are usually
lower in summer, when camels compete for freight.
On the Persian side, the charvadar’s w r ay-bill is checked at a Customs
post on the frontier, and the merchandise passes the Customs at Kermanshah.
Previous to the Belgian administration, Customs duty at Kermanshah was
nominally 2 per cent., but really 1 to per cent, ad valorem.
The Customs at Sinna are under the Kermanshah administration.
The greater part of the goods cleared at Kermanshah are destined for
Hamadan, and transport is usually engaged from Bagdad to Hamadan.
The Kermanshah region grows splendid wheat crops at so low a price as
to endure the costly transport to the sea-board at Busreh. It is most regret-
able that agricultural progress in this region has been hindered by excessive
taxation and vexatious regulations.
Tabriz.
The Customs Returns for 1902-03 give the following figures as values
of imports and exports :—
1902-03.
Imports ----- 1,238,231
Exports ----- 724,584
Trade through Astara pays Customs'duty there, but merchandise through
Julfa and Khoi can be examined at Tabriz. A charge of 6 shahis per package
is made on exports from Tabriz for “plombage” to the frontier. Exports
through Russia must be accompanied by a declaration of origin, and the
Customs charge krs. 9 for attesting each declaration.
The ad valorem charge of one per cent, on goods in transit through
Turkey has been abolished on the Trebizond route since 1873. It is levied,
however, at Constantinople on merchandise from Persia landed there for
re-exportation. (See Annex F, p. 83, extract from letter from Mr. Long-
worth, Trebizond.)
Trade Usages^ Credits, &c.
The Tabriz traders, through their representatives in Constantinople, are
much more in contact with Continental manufacturers than traders in other
parts of Persia. British cotton goods have not met with much competition
from the Continent, but in silks and woollens the large proportion of
Continental goods is marked. The Persian trader gets long credit of from
four to eight months in Constantinople from Continental manufacturers.
These bills are drawn and made payable in Constantinople. Formerly they
were drawn on the Tabriz merchant and sent to Tabriz for collection.
About this item
- Content
This part contains papers mostly relating to British interests in Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
It includes a copy of the Board of Trade Commercial Intelligence Committee ‘Report received from Mr. H. W. Maclean, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, on the conditions and prospects of British trade in Persia.’
A handwritten note at the front of the file, on folio 5, states ‘Spare copy of notes & correspondence of the “Helmand Control” file (with maps)’. Folio 110 consists of handwritten notes, including one dated 27 April 1904, which states ‘The secret Helmand papers have been printed up, and a set, with necessary maps, is submitted for H.E. the Viceroy to take to England.’ Much of the file concerns the question of controlling the water of the Helmand river and irrigating its whole delta, and the work of the Seistan Arbitration Commission to arbitrate between Persia and Afghanistan on the question of rights to the water of the Helmand in Seistan.
The file also includes reports by W A Johns on reconnaissances of potential railway routes made while he was attached to the Seistan Arbitration Commission, and other papers relating to railways and roads in Persia.
In addition, the file includes copies of the following Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, which reproduce received Foreign Department correspondence on the following subjects: ‘Selection of a British naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .’, November 1901, Nos. 74-83; ‘Visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during November-December 1903.’, February 1904, Nos. 33-127; ‘Establishment of telegraphic communication with Henjam. Question of the selection of a naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Aggressive action of the Persians at Tamb and Abu Musa; their claim to the Islands.’, June 1904, Nos. 300-388; ‘Reports of the Commercial Mission to Persia.’, June 1905, Nos. 45-111; ‘Question of retaining flagstaffs erected in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory’, August 1905, Nos. 288-307.’
The file also includes: brief handwritten notes written by Curzon on headed paper belonging to the Viceregal Lodge, Simla, relating to Seistan and to Lord Kitchener’s planned reforms for the reorganisation and redistribution of the Indian Army; and a printed copy of the report ‘A Note by Major H.L. [Herbert Lionel] Showers, C.I.E., on the present state of affairs in Kelat and a review of the system of Administration now being pursued.’
The file includes four maps: ‘Map of the Tail waters of Helmand River’ (13 July 1903), f 122; ‘Plan Shewing Proposed Routes for a Railway from Nushki to Afghan Frontier near Robat’ (10 April 1903), f 139; ‘Extract from Admiralty Chart No. 753. (Entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ).’ (October 1901), f 219; and ‘Sketch of route Ram Hormuz to Fellahieh.’ (April 1904), f 230.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (475 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in no apparent order, apart from the Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, folios 231 to 474, which are arranged in chronological order.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [47v] (93/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x00005e> [accessed 7 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- front, 2r:194v, 195v:196r, 197v:199v, 200v, 201v, 203r:272r, 273v:275v, 277r:405v, 408r:408v, 409v, 411r:413v, 414v:419v, 420v:424v, 425v:432v, 433v:435v, 436v, 437v:443v, 444v:471v, 473r:475v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence