‘Seistan’ [‎24v] (48/98)

4
of Seistan to Meslied, and also on India for the nsc of traders. Several Hindu
bankers are I hope soon coming who will undertake the work.
I addressed a letter to Sir Jamsetjee Jeejibhoy, Bombay, asking Parsis to
come and trade here. He has been very kind in assisting to encourage his com
munity. The immediate result is that I have received the following applications
for information about trade with Persia by the Seistan route :—
Razonatk Vedu Brothers . . Bombay.
Noonabhoy Alibhoy . . Karachi, with one lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees capital.
Jamshedi .... Bombay.
Wrote to Khan Allah Bux, former Attache at Meshed, and asked him to
interest his friends in the new trade with Persia ; as a result—
Mr. Danjibhoy, the well-known tonga agent, writes to say he has serious
intentions of starting this trade with a large capital.
Mr. Nusserwanji Jamasjee, of the firm of Jamasjee & Co., writes for
i nformation, saying he has large capital and intends sending a trial caravan ;
his firm have dealings in China, Japan, besides all over India.
Mr. Makunjee, son of the late Mamoojee, house proprietor in Rawalpindi,
writes for information, saying he has a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of capital to put into the business.
Addressed a letter to Messrs. Ralli Brothers, but have as yet received no
reply.
Among applications and inquiries about tea, the following tea companies
have either sent me samples or show an inclination to press their trade to
wards Persia:—
Bundla Tea Company, Palampur ; Holta Tea Company ; Tea Company»
Assam; Arcadia Tea Estate, Debra Dun; Debra Dun Tea Association, etc.
Captain Webb-Ware visited Shikarpur to induce traders to come to Persia-
The result has been applications from Tikam Singh, Kihal Singh and Lalaram
Guidass.
Among various other applicants are—
Uttam Chand, Bar Mukand and Ludhiana dealers in lungis, shawls, etc.,
Messrs. Grossman, Calcutta. To all these applicants 1 have written long and
detailed letters. Messrs Reyhart, Hull, England, have noted to me that they
are sending their representative Mr Goodier to Scistan in March to buy wool,
asking particulars about the Nushki route, a way they would prefer using to
that through Russia at present used by them.
Have addressed a letter to Mr. Cazaleh, London, one of the directors of
perhaps the biggest firm of general merchants in Russia (English), suggesting
that it may be possible to introduce land borne tea into Russia from India in
competition with the Chinese caravan tea.
Seth Suleiman here of the firm of Muhammad Ali Brothers, reports that
during six months he sold 50 camel-loads of green tea at Birjand to Afghans, and
could now sell over 100 camel-loads of tea had he got it.
The following are items of news I have received from Birjand through the
Agent of Muhammad Ali Brothers, who has a shop there :—
Letter, dated 12th December 1900, states that Rs. 8,550 have been received
by their firm in exchange for “ barats ” or cheques on India for the purchase
of English goods; also that if the British Government will issue cheques on
India, merchants from Sabzewa/ Yezd and Meshed would avail themselves
of the convenience. The total value of the Kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. , with Agha Khan caravan
hash! (referred to at the beginning of these notes) is 79,474 krans, equalling
about £1,590.
Colonel Temple reports that a rich Herati hanker from Meshed is sending
his Agent to Seistan, for the transaction/necessitated by the Herat caravans St
making use of this route. ' ' /
Of Russian trading agents there is not a sign.
The Russian Consul informs me that there has been no result from the
meeting held at Nigni Yovgorod last August and referred to by the British