'Russia, India and the Persian Gulf' [‎14r] (27/46)

The Western Frontiers of India. 23
of the Afghan boundary to Seistan, the value of the trade
of which has risen in five years from about ,£5,000 to
£150,000, but is likely now, to the detriment of commerce in
general, and the tea trade in particular, to decline to its
original dimensions, if the new Russo-Persian tariff is, in
spite of our diplomatic representations, maintained. If, as
stated, the excellent prospects of this route as a trade artery
inspired the decision to make a railway from Quetta to
Nushki, it will, indeed, be doubtful whether, under present
circumstances, the decision should be maintained though con
struction has already been commenced. The abandonment
of this plan would, however, be agreeable to the Russian
Government and the Russian press, which comments upon
the aggressive character of this very mild measure, though
the Russians keep a quarantine cordon of Cossacks on
Persian territory to impede the development of British and
Indian trade under the pretext of safeguarding Khorassan
and Transcaspia from plague, the period of incubation of
which is shorter than the minimum time required for the
journey from our frontier to Turbat-i-Haideri, where the
quarantine station is situated.
The following conclusions appear to be such as may be
justly formed upon the facts to which such reference has
been made above as time has allowed :
Firstly, that Russia altogether dominates Northern Persia,
and geographically North-Western Afghanistan, and has
been steadily advancing, while we have been marking time
in some, and retrograding in other, quarters. She is also
furnished with trained agents well acquainted with the
countries, peoples, and languages with which they have to
deal, while we,, as Professor Vambery and others have
remarked, u feel grievously the want of men who combine
a thorough knowledge of the literatures, languages, and
history of Asia, with a careful practical knowledge of each
people in particular, and an acquaintance with the political
questions of the day.” India, which should be a school for
the supply of such men, is hardly more successful in this