'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎261v] (527/706)

510
RASHT
^ i
options to exploit certain forests, and are endeavouring to dispose of these
options to foreign and, among others, to British firms. One of the stipu
lations of the original contracts is the payment within a fixed limit of a cer
tain sum, failing which the option lapses. Before acquiring such options it
is therefore advisable (after having obtained reliable information as to the
forest belonging to the person who has given the option) to ascertain whether
the necessary preliminary payments have duly been made.
Security of roads .—The road from Enzali to Kazvin and Tehran was per
fectly safe throughout the whole period under review, but it was blocked for
many days during the winter of 1910-11.
Freight. The cost of freight between Rasht and Tehran has ranged be
tween 145 and 200 Urdus per kharvdr of 650 lbs. (21. 13s. 8d. to 31. 14s. Id.).
Goods take about 12 days by fourgon and 14 days by caravan, but delays
are of frequent occurrence. The Persian Transport Company charge 14
shahis per pud (36 lbs.) for transport of goods by road from Enzali to Rasht.
Cost of transport by the Murdab varies according to demand, season and
weather. Delays are usual.
Exchange. Exchange has been very unsteady during the last two and a
half years. It varied from 51| in January 1910, to 57 in April 1009 the
average was about 54 Urdus to the pound.
Naphtha for Rasht is received in small cylindrical iron tanks, which are
emptied into reservoirs and retailed to the inhabitants. That for the interior
is received ill sheet iron boxes of 5, 4i and 3 puds; two of each make a camel
mule, and donkey load respectively.
Silkwormeggs.—M.. Lafont, Directeur of the Station Sericicole of
Montpellier, m an article on the production of silkworm eggs (“ Bulletin No
4 de 1 Union Franco-Persane”), gives some interesting .^formation on the
silkworm trade of Persia. He made experiments at Rasht during three
consecutive years, and is of opinion that silkworm eggs of good and sound
quality could easily be produced in G ian. This would® be ofgreat economic
snn nnno 0 , h f S province ’ whlcl ; D0W im P°rts from Asia Minor 230,000 to
300,000 ozs. of eggs valued at the customs at between 45,000?. and 50 000?
but which are sold to the natives for a much higher amount. The quantity pf
silkworm eggs required m Persia is given as 4 7 °
Gilan
Mazandaran and Astarabad ..
Khorasan ..
Azarbaijan (Urumieh and Astara)
Central Persia (Kashan and Yazd)
Boxes or Ounces.
. • 230,000 to 300,000
15.000
30.000
3.000 to 4,000 •
• • • 4,000 to 5,000
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