'Report on the British Indian Commercial Mission to South-Eastern Persia during 1904-1905. By A H Gleadowe-Newcomen.' [‎6r] (16/176)

From
H. GLEADOWE-NEWCOMEN, Esq., F.R.G.S., E.S.A.,
President, Commercial Mission to Persia,
To
The GOVERNMENT op INDIA, and the COMMITTEES
of the UPPER INDIA CHAMBER of COMMERCE,
CAWNPORE, and the INDIAN TEA CESS,
CALCUTTA.
Sees,
I have the honour to submit herewith my report on the trade of South-
Eastern Persia, its present position and its prospects, together with remarks
concerning certain matters, attention to which, I trust, may result in an increase
in Indo-Persian Trade.
My report divides itself into :—
I.—Introduction,
II.'—A General Report.
III. —Notes on Trading Centres, trade usages and other matters of
interest.
IV. — {a) Articles of Commerce. All samples (with prices) have
been submitted to the Upper India Chamber of Commerce,
Cawnpore, and to the Indian Tea Cess Committee,
Calcutta. These samples numbered in all 395.
(5) Resume :
V.—Appendices A, B, C (with map), D, E and F.
I have experienced no little difficulty in extracting information from the
Persian traders, who, in this part of the country, seem strangely disinclined to
give any, though they are ready enough to talk. Again, nearly all enquiries and
replies had to he made in Persian on both sides ; this placed us at a considerable
disadvantage, except in the case of Indian traders, who could speak Hindustani.
Thanks, however, to the assistance rendered, first by Khan Bahadur Asghar
Ali, later by Major P. M. Sykes, C.M.G., and Mr. G. Grahame, His Britannic
Majesty’s Consuls at Kerman and Shiraz, and by Major Cox, C.I.E., Resident
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Mr. Richards, Commercial Vice-Consul, and the Consular
Staff at Bushire, of whose keen interest in the Mission and its aims I cannot
speak too highly, I was able to make some progress with the gathering and
sifting of information.
Once the ports are left, it is impossible to secure anything in the shape of
statistics in Persia, for the old road tolls and octrois have been abolished
(officially that is) since the introduction of the new tariff, and no records are, or
have been, kept of the ebb and flow of traffic in the inland towns.
I beg to tender my grateful thanks to the Government of India for their
liberal support of the Mission, and for the arrangements made through the
Consular Officials for our safe conduct and comfort. Major P. M. Sykes,
C.M.G., who met us at Saiadabad, the Capital of Sirjan, and accompanied us tor
the most part of our tour, was of great help to us.