'Report on the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts for the year 1897-98 and on the Development of The Quetta-Seistan [Sistan] Trade Route' [‎13r] (25/148)

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APPENDIX II.
On the Quetta-Seistan Caravan Route.
A reference to the tabulated trade returns which close this report will
show that the prediction which I offered early last year as to the future of the
new Quetta-Seistan. trade route has been verified, and that to a degree which
promises well for trade hereafter, provided that some money be expended in
improving the route and that its trans-frontier interests be protected.
2. 1 he new trade route continues to grow steadily in favour, and is being
freely made use of by travellers and pilgrims proceeding to Meshed to visit the
shrine of Imam itaza.
‘h The returns to which I have just alluded show that exports and
imports to the total value of Its. 5,89,1)29-8-0 passed through Nushki during
the year 1st April 1897 to 31st March 1898. These figures, it must, however,
be remembered, represent trade not only with Seistan and Persia proper, but
also with the trans-frontier Afghan provinces of Shorawak and Garmsel.
4. A pronounced impetus was, as I anticipated, given to trade by the
action ol Government in finally buying out the Nushki transit dues. So much,
indeed, has this proved the case that Nushki Bauias have abandoned their
former practice of sending agents abroad to beat up trade, and now confine
themselves to the business that comes to their doors.
5. A\ith the expansion of trade, I have also to record a corresponding
increase in the number of traders representing the Nushki business community.
When I passed through Nushki early in 1897, the bazaar consisted of about
35 straggling ^hops, whereas if we add to the number of shops now in actual
occupation the number ol applicants who have approached me for sanction to
onon shops at Nushki, the total will be found not to fall far short of 100 separate
places of business.
0. It is somewhat difficult to obtain reliable information as to the amount
of trade which passed through Nushki prior to the opening of the new trade
route, but all my investigations show that practically no Persian trade existed,*
and that such trade as found its way to Shorawak, Garmsel and other trans
frontier Afghan provinces had of late years dwindled so decidedlv that the value
of the combined import and export returns for the year 189G fell below 1| lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . When 1 arrived at Nushki in January 1.897, I found that trade had,
for reasons recorded in my administration report for the year 1896-97, fallen
to such an extent that 1 believe that, if Government had not stepped in at the
juncture it did, traders could not have maintained their up-hill struggle much
longer, and the trade of the country must have died of inanition.
7. The figures which close this report must not be accepted as including
t he exact total of Nushki trade, tor many kajilas avoid the detour to Nushki
by marching direct trom Kishingi to Baghak, while a decreasing number of
kafilas still continue to make use of the old road to the north of £uishki.
8. I he trade returns would have reached a still higher figure than they
have if two circumstances had not operated to cause a decrease. During the
month of September last year, the frontier in the vicinity of Nushki was in a
state of unrest, owing to the operations of a freebooter named Jafir Khan. A
reference to the return for that month shows that the monthly total only reached
the sum of 11s. 1,630 as compared with Rs. 29,686-1-0 and Rs. 39,167 for the
months immediately preceding and following. Again, in December 1897, all
Garmsel trade came to a stand-still, owing to the depredations of an Afghan
Revenue official named Mirza Abdul Hamid Khan, who took up a position on
the frontier, in the vicinity of Partos Nawar, and raided across the border
Lieut. Napier, deputed to Seistan on special duty in 1892, stated that, at the time of his visit. Persian
trade with India was limited to two kajUas yearly.
Thomson, when Officiating Consul-General, Meshed, stated in a letter addressed to the Govern
ment ol India, so late as 1893, that Seistan imported no Indian products.
E 5G—6