File 1329/1910 'Persia: Imperial Bank (Seistan Branch)' [‎23r] (49/343)

the exportation of ghi did not at present pay ; a conclusion which is confirmed
hya simple calculation :—
Krans.
Approximate average cost during 1907-1903 of 1 camel load
(400 lbs.) ghi in the district .....
437-5
Carriage to Seistan .......
6
Packing .........
40
Carriage to Koh-i-Malik Siah ......
16
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Koh-i-Malik 3iah ......
1
Export duty .... ....
43-7
5442
Krans 544 - 2 = R 158-8
Carriage Koh-i-Malik Siah to Nushki ....
. R19-5
Cost landed at Nushki ......
. R178-3
The above is under the most favourable conditions, that
is, when advan-
tage had been taken of returning camels.
The ordinary cost of exporting ghi to Nushki would have
been —
Krans.
Cost in district ........
437-5
Carriage to Seistan .......
6
Packing .........
40
Carriage to N ushki .......
100
Export duty ........
43-7
Passport fees one-third .......
6-6
GSS’S = R184-9
There are in addition miscellaneous charges to be allowed for. Now a
trader knows that in sending ghi to Quetta he will lo-e a not inconsiderable
percentage by dryage, he will undergo risks of his leather bottles or tins
breaking and the various other mishaps that may overtake a perishable article
on a long trade route, and, finally, after taking all these into account, he will
not consider the speculation worth making unless he sees a reasonable chance
of substantial profits at the other end. i have no information about the
wholesale rate of ghi in Nushki, but the retail rate during the year was R1
per seer. Taking the shopkeepers profits at 10 per cent., he would buy ghi
at annas 14'4 per seer or R180 per camel load of 400 lbs. It is clear therefore
that under the market conditions that prevailed last year, Major Webb Ware’s
Seistani, who spends “ weeks and possibly months in collecting this article ”
would have been ill advised to send it to India, especially in view of the fact
that he has good markets nearer him in Birjand and Khorasan.
During the current year also, owing to a bad grazing season, ghi is dear
in both Seistan and Kain and will remain so at any rate till next season^
prospects are assured. The time would therefore be inopportune to press on
the Persian Government a further concession of the kind Major Webb Ware
recommends. I
I have only referred to the matter at this length as this is the second
time the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. has expressed the same views as to the duties of
those responsible for British interests in Seistan in this matter (the first
was in his dairy for week ending 24th Pebruary 1908), and from the passage
in the published trade report which has been quoted, the inference might be
drawn, either that His Majesty’s Consul had not taken the trouble to “ direct
a thought to the matter ” or if he had done so, had omitted to put his thoughts
into any sort of action.