'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎38v] (81/706)

64
AZARBAIJAN
The agricultural produce of this province consists of wheat, barley,
opium, maize, rye, flax, hemp, madder, fruit, cotton, tobacco, and grapes.
In corn its resources are said to be practically unlimited. The amount
of revenue paid in kind annually is as much as 60,000 to 70,000 kharwc.rs
and large amounts are annually exported to supply the deficiency of
other districts.
There are large herds of sheep and goats and a considerable quantity
of wool is produced, as well as wax and honey. There are reported to
be large numbers of cattle, mules, horses, and camels.
The mineral productions of Azarbaijan are abundant and valuable.
Iron, lead and copper exist in abundance and have been frequently,
if unmethodically, worked. The richest district is that of Kara Dagh
in the north-east, where iron and copper mines have been recently worked
both by natives and Europeans.
Lead, copper and saltpetre have been produced from the Khalkhal
region, coal from a spot 4 miles north-east of Tabriz. In the adjoining
Khamseh district are deposits of copper, lead, coal, and mercury.
At Maragheh is found a beautiful transparent white marble which is
much prized in Persia, being used for paving baths and palaces, and in thin
plates as windows.
Trade .—The trade of Azarbaijan is considerable and would be even greater
than it is, had not new avenues of approach been opened up to Tehran.
In former years there were only two main trade arteries into north*
west and west Persia :
(a) through Turkish territory via Trebizond,
(b) through Russian territory from the Caucasus,
The main line of approach for imports from Russia to the capital and
the west generally is no longer through Azarbaijan, but across the Cas
pian and from its southern ports to Tehran.
The opening up of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports has also decreased the trade
of the province by offering other routes for goods to come in by, so that
merchandise intended for the west generally, instead of coming through
Turkish territory via Trebizond as before, is now transhipped from
ocean-going steamers to river steamers at Busreh, which take it to Bagh
dad, whence it goes by caravan to Tehran via Khaniqin, Kirmanshah
and Hamadan.
The imports into Persia from Trebizond doubtless owing to the open-
ing up of this route, sunk from £ 577,200 in 1896 to £ 405,280 in 1900.
In spite of all the new routes opened up, the trade returns furnished by
Mr. Consul-General Wood for 1900-1901 shew a marked improvement
on former years. This, however, may be owing to the improved custom
service which is now under Belgian supervision and not farmed out, and
it is quite possible that had the same system prevailed in 1887-89
that the figures given below, published by Lord Curzon in 1892 might
have been very different.
1887. 1888. 1889.
Importa £910,108 £664,196 £853,891
Ex P ° rt3 £573,035 £413,694 £389,456