Report No.67 of 1863 detailing the tribes, trades and resources of the Gulf Littoral [‎9r] (17/58)

17
S
* 1 went half
way down the
Moolla Pass, but I
did not meet any
traffic there. It
was in December.
Shat-ool-Arab, Tigris, and Kermanshah, and Hamadan lines of consumption. But
am ill-acquainted with tins line; although I find among my recollections a passing
visit, that the walls of Baghdad appeared to have been built for a bigger city, and
that there were few trading craft on the IVris.
a - Similar remarks would apply with increased force to any route runnino-
JNorth from Baghdad towards the Kurds. 0
89. If to the foregoing glance along these routes, I might add a fact or two,
orawn from personal observation, I would remark that, I met comparatively
little traffic between I rebezond and Tabreez; although Tabreez itself seemed a
considerable commercial town, with well-cultivated environs. The road from
iabreez to Teheran was as unfrequented, until one arrived at Casween, the nearest
town of any importance to the Capital. Between Teheran and Meshed I met very
few caravans; and they were principally engaged in carrying dead bodies, or
pilgiims fiom Bokhara and Meshed to Kurbella, iN'cjd, and Mecca; or in carryino'
pilgrims eastwards to the Shrine at Meshed. From Meshed to Herat and from
Herat through Furrah to Ghiriskh on the Helmund, I did not meet a single
Kafla; although I came on the track of one, which was utterly destroyed
next morning ;near Laush Jowain, and although I met at the Kohi Doozdan
on the Kash Eood, the Seistanees, who had a night or two before smitten
the only Ivafla they had been able to fall in with.
90. Between Candahar, Quetta, Khelat, and the head of the Bolan, I met
now and then a string of camels ;* but I found between Khozdar and Kurrachee,
a larger bulk of goods on camels than I had met along the entire route from
Meshed to Khozdar; I might perhaps add from even Teheran to Khozdar. I fling
these facts out, without wishing to strain them into a theory, for determining the
proportions of trade along any given distance. And it is possible, had I returned
to ieheran, the facts might have been different.
91. I think, however, all circumstances considered that trade, if left free,
or even if only moderately harrassed, should be able, when landed at Bunder
Abbass, to command the markets of Kerman and Yezd—the latter one of the
wealthiest and most enterprising towns in Persia*—that it should further be able to
compete with trade coming along any of the lines above enumerated, to Ispahan,
Peheran, and Mesned; and then that it should flow along the Tabreez line until
overpowered by the conntercurrents of the Russian and Turkish Armenian lines.
Bunder Abbass would naturally absorb also any little trade that might be needed
for Western Mekran.
92. I think, secondly, that trade without smuggling at Lingah, should
command the immediate neighbourhood ofLar, and the"adjacent coast line.
93. Thirdly, that trade landed at Bushire, should command those districts
belovy the passes; and also the market of Shiraz and the province of Fars in general.
It might compete with other routes as far North as Ispahan, but not I think, at
Teheran. Finally it might be able to throw a sprinkling of goods towards Yezd.
94. The advantages of Bunder Abbass as a Port for the supply of the markets
under notice, may be compared with those of Bushire, as follows
95. Bunder Abbass is less interfered with by authority. The dues are
more moderate, and are levied without needless delay or injury to goods absence
of octroi no subsequent governmental demand, unless at Yezd, where it is mo
derate, readily levied, and whence trade moves on direct to the Capital; (while
trade at Bushire sustains en route not only octroi, but a heavy demand and delay
at Shiraz; and a third demand at Ispahan); an easier and more level road; an
abundant supply of camels instead of a limited supply of mules: each camel carry-
* The principal mercliants at Yezd are Guebres; also some Hindoos, and a few Ispahanees. The
Hindoos are from Mooltan. It is remarkable that on the Herat and Bokhara line the Indian traders
come^ from Shikarpoor principally. Then towards South Persia from Mooltan. At Zanzibar they arc
principally from Kutch and that neighbourhood. At Bushire there is not a single Banyan Merchant of Indian extraction. . The fact is,
a Banyan Merchant of Indian extraction. will stand any tyranny, any misery, any thing you please, except 'permanent loss of profits ;
when this last calamity arrives, he goes away, as he has done from Bushire.