File 3852/1912 Pt 1 'Persia: Trade in South. Conditions on the Bushire - Shiraz Road. Russian commercial competition in S. Persia' [‎158r] (315/368)

In a recent meeting ef the forwarding merchants in Bushire, it was arranged
that goods for Shiraz should only be given to donkeymen on condition that they
proceeded by the main telegraph route, which they have not liked doing hitherto, as
''"N.it is far off from their homes, and they are not able to loiter, as they like, along it.
We need a minimum of 2,000 donkeys monthly to work up and down "the main !
caravan route between Bushire and Shiraz.
To secure this it would be necessary for the Persian Government authorities to
summon the chief donkeymen and donkey owners of, say, Kawar, Farrashband, &c., 1
districts, explain that they are wanted to work regularly on the main caravan route to
Shiraz, that they will be well treated, and obtain an undertaking from them that they f
would do so. The initial action in this direction might be taken at Bu?hire by the
consulate-general with the governor and chief merchants, but it would be well and I
necessary in some cases for the Governor-General of Fai s, the consulate and merchants
of Shiraz to put the necessary pressure on the head donkeymen concerned.
There is little information here as to the possibility of incorporating donkey
transport more extensively on the Shiraz-Ispahan road, but this could certainly be done
in the case of camels.
If His Majesty’s Government agree that insufficiency of transport animals from
the south is largely to blame for the poor resistance that is being offered by trade from
the south to the downward progress of Bussian trade, then the course outlined above
might form a basis for improving conditions ; but, in any case, nothing can be effected
in this direction unless His Majesty’s consular officers take up the matter with
the Persian provincial governors and merchants, and apply all their efforts in this
direction.
Of all three roads, Bushire-Shiraz-Ispahan, Ahwaz-Ispahan, Bunder Abbas—
Kerman, proper organisation of transport services should be the first step towards
a recovery of British trade, to follow the restoration of security along the roads.
Other Suggestions.
(a.) Caravan Statistics.
In connection with the question of caravan traffic too much emphasis cannot be
laid upon the importance of His Majesty’s representatives having accurate statistics of
the numbers of transport animals passing up and down the trade routes from the
south. This question of internal statistics has been altogether neglected in the past;
and the consequence is that, without our knowing how or why, British trade in the
interior of Persia has drifted into a very unsatisfactory condition. Trade reports of
centres in the interior of Persia suffer from the want of reliable figures of weights and
values of imports and exports.
A tentative beginning to remedy this was sanctioned by the Foreign Office early
this year, and mule traffic over the Bushire-Shiraz-Ispahan road is now reported
weekly. The number of animals loaded at Bushire can be accurately known from
the distribution lists of the forwarding department; at Borazjun the telegraphs are
able to take note of the number of animals passing, as they load and unload in
front of the telegraph station. At Dashtarjin and Dehbid, north of Shiraz, similar
countings are made, and should be accurate, if conscientiously undertaken by the
signallers.
This system might now be much extended. Arrangements could be made at little
cost at Bunder Abbas and at Ahwaz (at the Godar bridge or else Malamir
caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). ) for an accurate counting of all animals, by employes of the consulates.
Similar counts should certainly be made at Kerman, and, if his Majesty s consul-
general thinks useful, at the gates of Ispahan or shortly before that city is reached.
The figures of transport furnished by Messrs. Lynch Bros, represent only animals
carrying their own loads—but probably as many animals again are engaged by
Persian merchants separately, and we require to know the totals (i.e., these and
Messrs. Lynch’s) more accurately.
Caravan statistics are also needed at Bam, where they might be collected by the
officer in charge of the Indo-European Telegraph Department office; they are needed on
F |q o Trnm PC q ti Fo V p* , yc\
Between Kerman and Yezd the Indo-European Telegraph Department could control
the number of animals passing; but it would be in any case advisable for the -British
vice-consul at Yezd to engage a man to report incoming caravans both from t e naz
and Kerman roads.
["1898 s —2]
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