Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎80v] (160/252)

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number of these Muhammadan pilgrims is increasing so steadily that Govern
ment will shortly find it necessary to provide special pilgrim accommodation. at
every stage, on the caravan road, between Quetta and Seistan. It is the dying
wish of many devout Shiah Muhammadans that their remains be conveyed to
Mashad for burial in the vicinity of the holy shrine; but Shiah Muhammadans
using the trade route would do well to remember that passage of corpses to
Persia through Baluchistan is not permitted by the Local Government.
17. There was a dearth of camel transport in Quetta towards the beginning
of the year. To guard against this occurring in future arrangements have been
made for a large number of Afghan camels being available at the opening of
next trading season. It would be well if merchants using the road were to note
that the average camel load is five maunds gross. Several of the trader’s, who
came to Quetta in winter were ignorant of this and they also made the mistake of
engaging their carriage themselves with the result that they were detained
several weeks in Quetta re-arranging their loads and were put to much
unnecessary expense.
18. The steady increase which the last two years have seen in the season
devoted to trade is significant. Three years ago the trading season was limited
to the five winter months. The trading season for the year 1900-1901 opened
early in September, and had not closed nine months later, that is to say, for
a period of no less than nine consecutive months caravans continued to pass to
and fro along the road. A traveller, who went up to Seistan in June last, has
left on record that the average daily temperature he experienced between
Nushki and the Persian frontier did not exceed 91°F. What has been said effec
tually disposes of the two objections which have been urged most persistently
against the Nushki-Seistan trade route, viz., that the cold of winter and the heat
of summer are respectively so great that they render the route impracticable during
the greater portion of the year.
19. A recent inspection of the Nasratabad bazar showed that, excluding a
Russian cloth known as Shikin Maghut, the textiles sold in Seistan are almost
wholly of either English or Indian manufacture. Shikin Maghut is a kind of
moleskin cloth which is manufactured in Russia in various qualities and shades
and forms one of the more important Russian exports to Central Asia. That
this cloth appeals to the native taste is undoubted, but it is difficult to say why
this should be so, for the dyes used are bad, the material is second rate, and the
prices asked are high. There is little doubt that if Indian manufactures were
given a fair field, they could manufacture a similar article of higher quality
and sell it at lower price in Trans-Caspia. Indian manufacturers might do well
to turn their attention to the manufacture of this cloth, as it commands a ready
sale on the frontier. The Political Assistant, Chagai, is prepared to supply
batterns on application.
20. Messrs. Mclver Mackenzie & Co., of Karachi, and Mr Duncan
MacBean, of the Punjab Bank, Quetta, are prepared to act as forwarding agents
for Indian and Persian firms. The Quetta Branch of the Punjab Bank°is in
business communication with the Imperial Bank of Persia.
21. A Persian customs post will shortly be established at Hurmak on the
Persian frontier. To save themselves trouble merchants are advised to provide
themselves with the original invoices of their goods and to have each of their
invoices attested, at the place from where their goods are despatched, by some
duly qualified official. By taking this precaution merchants will find that their
goods will be passed through the Persian customs with the minimum delay. The
Persian customs officials decline to accept any but original invoices which
should be clearly written in the English language.
22. British subjects can obtain passports on application to the Eirst Assist
ant to the Honourable the Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan. A
fee of one rupee is levied on each passport issued. Natives of India must support
applications for passports by an indentity certificate bearing the countersigna
ture of the Deputy Commissioner of their district.
2*3. On the 3rd April 1901, the Persian Government introduced a law
abolishing all inland customs houses and transit dues, and substituting instead
a rahdari tax of 6 annas per 240 lbs. This tax is payable on crossing the frontier
and is levied in ;
Persian Governmc
vention.
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