'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎177r] (358/706)

kirmanshah
341
out; of it, and yarns, which are exported to ’Iraq and Luristan, yet when all
these requirements are fulfilled about 1 , 000,000 lbs. of wool are exported
via Baghdad. Little care is taken in cleaning the wool, and there are no
presses in the place, either hand or hydraulic, so that the bales are bulky,
and, in consequence, the export is all done by means of camels.”
Tobacco is grown in sufficient quantities to allow of some being exported.
Gum is collected and exported, chiefly to London.
The carpet industry, which used to thrive, has now (1902) almost ceased to
exist. Aniline dyes are used.
Transport .—Mules and horses are bred in great numbers. There are
extensive pasture lands, and forage is plentiful. The horses, when well bred,
have much Arab blood, and fetch good prices. The mules are strong, and
most of the charvaddrs apply to this province for their requirements.
To buy horses one has to go to the tribes, as few are brought to Kirmanshah
for sale, and few are exported via Baghdad, on account of the heavy duty
charged by the Turkish authorities.
Mules up to the age of four years can be bought in the villages ; past that
age they are taken over by charvaddrs for transport. A good, fully deve
loped mule fetches 50 to 100 tumdns.
Kirmanshah was for many years famous for its horses, but the breeding
is not what it used to be. From 50 to 100 Arab horses are brought every year
from Baghdad by pilgrims. Prices range from 30 £ T. to 100 £ T. These
horses are seldom offered for sale. Horses are bred by the Sinjabis, Kalhurs
and Kuhals ; and in Kurdistan and a few of the villages.
The Kalhurs, having many horsemen, have not many horses for sale.
They dispose of a few to the pilgrims passing from Kirmanshah, to Khaniqln,
or vice verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. .
The Sinjabi horses have much Arab blood, and, although rather small,
are better than other horses of the province. The Sinjabis are said to have
about 1,000 horses and mares, producing yearly 200 foals. They are good
for draught and as beasts of burden.
The Kuliais have sonn 500 to 600 horses, producing yearly about 100
colts. Their horses are said to be not very strong. They occisionally buy
mares for breeding purposes from the Jafs and Khazals.
Colts having good blood fetch, when one or two years old, from 20 to 30
tumdns. Those from the Jafs are sold at 40 to 50 tumdns. One to two-
year old Yabus ” can be bought at 15 to 16 tdmdns. An ordinary horse,
four to five years old, can be bought amongst the tribes at from 30 to 40
turn'ms. The best season for buying horses and mules is about one month
after the feast of Nauruz (March 21st). In winter, on account of the great
demand for transport, horn s and mules are expensive.
Young horses intended for caravan work are accustomed, when three to
four years old, to carry loads. 50 maunds is a usual load for a fully develops d
horse, but up to 70 maunds is sometimes carried. The usual lifetime of a
horse is 15 to 20 years. The cost of shoeing a horse is 4 krdns ; if inferior
quility shoes be used, the price is only 2| krdns. The shoe, in universal use,
consists of a thin plate of iron, about to 1 |- inches wide, hammered to the
shape of a hoof, which it nearly covers ; and is fastened on by four or six
large-headed nails. They last for about 10 weeks.