'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎83v] (171/610)

134
Supplies .—The chief products of Khamseh are fruit (especi
ally from Tarum, as at Zinjan and the highland villages in
.some years it is nipped by cold in spring or fails to ripen), grapes
and raisins especially from Abhar, and wheat and barley. The
production of wheat and barley has fallen off owing to decrease
in population and of ploughing oxen, but a good harvest yields
a surplus to the needs of the province of about 30,000* kharvars
of wheat and 10,000 kharvars of barley, which is exported
principally to Gilan, also to Kazvin and, if required, to Tehran.
On an average of 3 years out of 10, owing to a poor harvest, no
grain is surplus. In 1912 and 1918 the crops failed and grain was
imported from Garrus. Rice is fetched from Gilan as required
and is not stored. In an avenge year at the present time
(1920) supplies are obtainable locally for a force of about
1,000 B. O. R., 1,500 I. O. R. and 2,000 animals.
Transport .—Wheeled transport is scarce. In addition to
postal carts there are about 50 privately owned carts and
carriages. Pack transport is always in transit and little is
attracted to Zinjan as a destination, owing to the cessation of
the f export of raisins and fruit, but camel convoys pass through
on their way to Tabriz. The Afshar and Duvairan areas were
estimated formerly to possess about 10,000 camels, reduced
since 1917 to about 2,000. The Tarum villages own mules for
local use and engaged in the carrying trade between Gilan and
Khamseh and for export of fruit. They are said to total
about 5,000, but this figure seems an over-estimate. A fait
number of mules also work along the Bijar and Sakkiz routes.
Communications .—See Chapter X, paragraph (c), Land
Routes, and paragraph {d), Posts and Telegraphs. The Zinjan
Rud is crossed by 2 large brick bridges on the Zinjan-Bijar and
Zinjan-Hamadan routes, but by June they span a dry water
course.
Water and Camping Grounds.—Water is plentiful, but
exposed to surface pollution as in other Persian towns. A good
stream emerges by the barracks built by the British at Husaina-
bad, about a mile"beyond Zinjan on the Tabriz road, which is the
best camping ground. The country all round the town is
open. • e
Administration .—Zinjan is the capital of the province o
Khamseh, and the Governor lives in a large garden in the centre
oof the town. There is also a chief of Finance, of Posts, of
Justice, who probably takes his orders from the Amir Afshar,
* Kharvar«=650 ills.
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