Reports and Correspondence Relating to Persia, Including Trade and Trade Routes in Persia [‎95r] (189/252)

I
From—The Hon’ble COLONEL C. E. Yate, C.S.I., C.M.G., Agent to the Gov-
ernor-General in Baluchistan,
To—H. S. Barnes, Esq., C.S., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India,
Foreign Department.
I have the honour to forward herewith, for the information of the Government
of India, a copy of Captairf Webb Ware’s Annual Report for the year 1900*1901
on the development of the Quetta-Seistan caravan route.
2. In accordance with the orders of the Government of India conveyed in
Foreign Department letter No. 53-F., dated the 8th January 1901, this report
deals with subjects bearing on the development of the Persian trade and on the
trade with the western provinces of Afghanistan. The report on the adminis
tration of the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani districts has been embodied
in the annual Administration Report of the Baluchistan Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. . Captain W 7 ebb
Ware has also prepared some notes dealing with the trade returns for the past
year. These notes and returns I have already submitted separately* with the
• To Foreign Department, No. 8 S oo, dated the reC °mmendation that they should be print-
O* — - El r\ O /-l r-y-* r-4 /-v _ X 1 •
ed and made available for general circu
lation in the same manner as the annual
Consular Reports.
9th October 190I.
3. The progressive increase in the value of trade passing along the route has
been satisfactorily maintained, and the figures show an increase of close on three
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees over the returns of the preceding twelve months. The following are the
figures of the value of the trade during the last four years :—
Rs.
5)89,929
7,28 082
, 5 ^ 34 j^ 5 2
1897- 1898 ...
1898- 1899 ...
1899- 1900 ...
1900- 1901
The trade has, therefore, doubled in value in the course of the last two
years.
4. The question of the provision of a caravansarai for Persian traders to which
the Government of l nc ij a attached great
met. by the conver-
District Thana into a
Seistan caravansarai. This building, which is situated near the railway station
and outside municipal limits, has been considerably added to and enlarged, and in its
present condition is sufficient for all existing requirements. This caravansarai has
been placed under the charge of Khan Bahadur Mirza Muhammad Taki Khan, a
pensioned Government servant, who has also been deputed to watch the general
interests of merchants and traders. His assistance has been much appreciated
and the selection has been a happy one. ,
5. The concession of a rebate of one-third of the actual railway freight
granted by the North-Western Railway on all goods imported into and exported
from India by the Nushki route has been greatly appreciated by traders and should
exercise a considerable influence on the development of the trade route. For
this concession I am much indebted to Mr. Finney, the Manager of the North-
Western Railway, who has shown the greatest interest in all questions connected
with the pew route. Similar rebates have also been lately conceded by the Oudh
and Rohilkhand and East Indian Railways.
6. The diminution of crime along the route reported by Captain Webb Ware
is satisfactory, and the administration of the Chagai District in this respect is all
that can be desired.
The recent establishment of a Naib Tahsil in Chagai with head-quarters at
Dalbandin will largely tend to the increase of our authority and every year will
show an improvement in this respect.