'REPORT ON THE TRADE AND INDUSTRY OF PERSIA to June, 1923.' [‎4v] (8/26)

4
CURRENCY, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AND GENERAL
INFORMATION.
The Unit of Weight adopted by the Persian Customs Administration,
which is under Belgian direction, is the Tabriz Man, also known as the
Batman, which is commonly recognized throughout Persia, though local
Mans of varying weights often replace it in different parts of Persia for
trading purposes. The Tabriz Man is approximately equivalent to 6 lb.
9 ozs. or 2-970 kilogrammes, and is made up of 40 Seers or 640 Meskels.
100 Batmans are equivalent to one Kharvar which is commonly used as
the basis for transport charges, Kharvars being roughly equal to one
ton. Two Tabriz Mans are also equal to one Shah Man.
The Monetary Unit is the Kran, which has varied considerably in value
during the last 18 months. 10 Krans are equivalent to one Toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , and
the Kran is subdivided into 20 Shahis. For banking purposes the Kran is
also divided into 100 cents, and in the bazaars it is still known as One
Hazar from the fact that it was formerly divided into 1,000 Dinars (a
purely mythical coin).
The average Rate of Exchange for the Persian year commencing March,
1922, and ending March, 1923, was Krans 56-56 = £\ sterling, and Krans
1,000 = Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 365.
Distances are usually measured in Farsakhs, which are equivalent to
the hypothetical distance travelled by a loaded mule an hour and vary
according to the nature of the country from 4 miles in flat country to 2£
in mountainous districts.
The Unit of Measure for cloth and other merchandize is the Zar, which is
roughly equivalent to 40£ inches and is sub-divided into 16 Girehs.
This unit is also used for land measurement but varies from 39 inches to
42 inches in different parts of the country. 6,000 Zars are equivalent to
one Farsakh for land measurement.
Goods for Transport should usually be divided into the following weights,
each load consisting of 2 bales :
1 Camel load .. .. .. .. .. lbs. 350-400
1 Mule „ lbs. 200-250
1 Donkey load .. . . .. .. .. lbs. 150-180
Country carts, and fourgons, the latter drawn by four horses, carry
weights up to 1£ tons along the main roads only. Animal transport
travels on an average 26 miles a day ; wheeled transport 20-30 miles.
All goods should be securely packed and carried in sacking as well as
waterproof material so as to minimize the risk of breakage or damage to
goods in transit.
Transport Rates vary, greatly according to district, the time of the year
and the nature of the goods carried. In East Persia a fair average during
the past year was £3 15s. Od. per ton per 100 miles for camel transport;
mule and donkey rates being respectively somewhat higher and lower
than the above amount. During the same period the equivalent of the
average rates for animal transport were approximately* :—
(1) Tehran-Isfahan (250 miles) = £9 5s. Od. per ton per 100 miles ;
Isfahan-Shiraz (300 miles), ^6 10s. Od. per ton per 100 miles ;
Shiraz-Bushire (200 miles), £0 per ton per 100 miles.
(2) Isfahan-Ahwaz (250 miles), £14 per ton per 100 miles.
Agencies. —The Persian merchant often finds it difficult on account of
his lack of knowledge of foreign markets to establish direct connections
with foreign firms not represented in this country, and one of the most
felt wants, except in certain well-established and highly specialised lines
such as piece-goods and textiles, is the establishment of suitable agencies
for making known new products and putting Persian merchants in touch
* These statistics have been calculated at the rate of Krans 50-^1, the
rate at the end of June, 1923, being Krans 49-5-/1.