'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎304v] (613/706)

596 ' TABRIZ
p barren and sandy soil, so strongly impregnated with salt as to be almost
incapable of cultivation.
Twenty miles to the north-west of Tabriz is a fine mine of rock salt
from which the town and district are supplied.
Water .—Water is scarce in Tabriz, and the supply of the different parts
of the town is in the hands of private individuals, who at their own expense
have constructed aqueducts from springs at some distance for the supply
of the town.
They sell it for about 2 tumdns per annum per “ luleh”, stream of about
the thickness of a man’s finger which the buyer opens from the main channel
when he has occasion for it. He may purchase as many “lulehs ” as he likes,
and regulate the size of his pipe accordingly. It is difficult, however, to say
what is the average payment for water, as it depends on a multitude of cir
cumstances—the dryness of the season, the quantity required and the agree
ment with the owner. The value is continually fluctuating ; each buyer
obtains his supply from the side of the main stream, and if payment is in
any case withheld, the water is cut off from the whole street, much to the
inconvenience and annoyance of those who do pay; though this seldom
happens, as it is every man’s interest not only to be punctual himself, but
also to see that his neighbour is so. It is, however, a never failing source of
dispute, each party endeavouring to defraud the other as much as possible.
Ussher says it is so precious that a stream one foot in width and an inch in
depth is worth from £200 to £300 a year.
Trade .—The great importance of Tabriz must be sought for in its com
mercial position ; being the largest city in Persia, it is not only the centre
of an imp rtant local traffic, but by its situation has become the emporium
of European trade with Persia. There are two commercial highways from
Europe to Persia, the one by Trebizond and Erzerum, the other by the
way of Poti, Tiflis, and Erivan. The trade has declined by the Trebizond
route since the opening up of Persia from Bushire. Tabriz no longer supplies
all northern Persia. Some trade is however still retained by the English
firms and English goods still maintain their ascendency in the market ;
Russian goods compete with difficulty in some parts of Azarbaijan with those
coming from Bradford and Manchester.
Tabriz has always been the great centre of banking business for Northern
Persia. The summer exports cause a great demand for Persian coin and a large
exchange business is done. Bill transactions are negotiated here for Tehran,
Khorasan, Isfahan and Shiraz, the whole of Northern Persia, and much busi
ness is done in the buying and selling of drafts on Russia. The Imperial
Bank of Persia, as well as the Russian Bank “ la Banque des Prets de
Perse ” have branches here. The most influential representatives of European
trade are the firms of Ziegler k Co., of Manchester, and a Greek firm; there
is also an important Russian transport company. Two German Companies
started trade here in 1912. The state of affairs at Tabriz amongst all these
different nationalities was pacific ; for, although many individuals would have
no intercourse with their neighbours, yet there were no clearly-defined hostile
camps. The representatives of England and Russia at Tabriz enjoy a position
of authority, in accordance with the power of their respective countries.