Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎79v] (158/252)

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their goods to the best advantage. The selection of Khan Bahadur Mirza
Mohamed Taki has proved both a happy and popular one, and has done much
to advance the interests of the trade route.
7. Persian merchants coming to Quetta are frequently at a loss where to
purchase goods or how they should set about doing so. To assist them a large
room in the new caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). has been fitted up with shelves, and the various
Indian Chambers cf Commerce have been requested to call on their members
to supply specimen samples of their manufactures for exhibition. Each pattern
will be labelled with its cost price per maund, hale, etc., the freight and inciden
tal charges to Quetta, and any other information which can be compressed into
a small space and is likely to prove of value to would-be purchasers. Arrange
ments are also being made by which merchants will be able to purchase any
article, which is on view, by depositing a sum of money in the local bank suffi
cient to cover the amount of the order. It is hoped that the manufacturing
community of India will come forward and give this movement their personal
support.
8. A good opening awaits anyone who has the enterprise to open an Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
in Quetta to supply Persian traders w ith English and Indian piece and other
goods, direct from the manufacturers in large quantities and at low prices; The
rates current in the Quetta Bazaar for piece goods rule high, consequent on tne
goods having passed through many hands and having paid many commissions, and
as these prices offer no inducement to the larger traders to purchase in Quetta,
the latter are consequently compelled to proceed in person to Shikarpur, Sukkur
or Karachi, with the result that they are put to considerable personal incon
venience, expense and delay. The Seistanis, who come to Quetta, are always
impatient to return and chafe if subjected to any detention. An Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. con
ducted on the lines noted should meet with immediate success, provided alwavs
that judgment is exercised in the selection of merchandise and a sufficient stock
of goods is kept on hand.
9. It is a common error to suppose that Persian trade is confined to a few
cheap and, therefore, inferior articles. This is far from being the case. The
Persian likes novelty and insists on having a thoroughly good article, and
connecting, as he does, the word English w ith high quality and finish, his natural
inclination is to purchase the manufactures of other countries only when he
cannot satisfy his wish and buy English goods. It is largely by recognizino-
this fact, which is known to so few, that the firm of Mohamed Alf and Brothers
of Quetta and Seistan have built up their present business.
10. In 1899 the Government of India were pleased to sanction an allotment
of Rs. 93,000, spread over a period of three years, for the improvement of the new
trade route. This grant has admitted of much being done towards facilitating
the transit of merchandise and the passage of travellers to the Persian frontier.
I he following are a few of the more important improvements ’which have been
introduced, noted in their order of importance.
From Quetta to Nushki every stage is now marked bv a commodious levy
post containing quarters for travellers and merchants, and at each of these stages
supplies are forthcoming at favourable rates. °
Eight of the next ten stages west of Nushki have been provided, in addition
to strong levy posts, with chapparkhanas, containing two large rooms with
bath-rooms attached, cook-houses, servants’ quarters and adequate stabling. In
these circumstances, and the first 273 miles of the caravan road being provided
w ith excellent water at intervals of from 12 to 16 miles apart, it will be seen that
the first halt of the journey to Seistan now presents no difficulty whatever, and that
caravans can traverse this section of the trade route with an ease, comfort and
safety, which wi 1 compare favourably with any other overland route in Northern
India, Although only one chapparkhana has been completed on the frontier
S wp 10r ^ ^ le roa ^ y e ^ four stages to the frontier also present very little
n l v w ^. en c h a PParkhanas, which are under construction are
finished, this section of the road will offer travellers as little trouble as the
section of the road which has been described. The average distance apart of
t ie six stages which intervene between the two sections of the road referred to.
is Lo miles. I his is too much and as a reconnaissance of the surrounding countrv
which was carried out last winter, has shown that a better, as well Ss shorter,’
alignment for a can
should water be f(
its length. The cor
if it can, then the
opening the trade rc
As regards the
rised briefly as folio
feet, has been run fi
of a weekly dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. a b
the dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. travels has
parcel system also h
stage has been augn
out its length, have
11. The marke
and it is a matter c
have neither turned
it. Such a promisii
12. Tea exporti
when sold in the Mi
Abtias. While the
no matter how carei
another explanation
gardens, or from Ca
the freight, commit
exported by Bandar
vinced the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. th;
sumed in Khorasan
Seistan trade route,
or as they are terme
the Indian tea is gre
in flavour and liquoi
India with Europe
why teas grown ii
compete in Europe o
ciations of India woi
despatch an experii
Russia.
13. The Indian
representatives to K
Persian market on 1
ciations are much
played in exploitinj
to them.
14. The firm of
last year and has doi
recently been follow
of Shikarpur and Me
from the numerous er
every likelihood of tl
reinforced in the et
the fringe of the trad
more Indian traders
Seistan trade route h
15. The number
the year under review
months. The dealers
culty in disposing
remunerative that it
16. The past yea
who passed along th
travel to Mashad on