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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [26v] (51/949)
The record is made up of 1 file (475 folios). It was created in 7 Nov 1901-23 Aug 1905. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
i
i8
Number in
Table of
Statistics.
24
12
25
IO
REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
wheat lands. The return is estimated at 10 times the seed sown,,
but the ground is little more than scratched, and is cropped year
after year. There is often a large percentage of barley mixed
with the wheat, which is dealt in at Ahwaz on the basis of 8 per
cent, barley and dirt. In consequence of a succession of bad
harvests, prices have not admitted of important purchases for
abroad since 1895, when over 25,000 tons were exported. This
year a small quantity has been exported. The prices on the
Karun in 1902 averaged about 75. per cwt. It cannot be dealt
in at Ahwaz for export at current London prices (March 1902,
27s. 6d.) at much over krs. 30 per Ismailia man (3J cwts,)
(35. id. per cwt.).
The province of Kermanshah is also an important wheat
growing country, and, like the Karun region, might attain to
agricultural prosperity were the excessive taxes and restrictions
on export removed. The price of wheat in Kermanshah during
the last year has been krs. 20 to krs. 25 per kharwar Tabriz, or
15. 2d. to 15.7^. per cwt. Customs duty on export is krs. 10
per kharwar {j\d. per cwt.). The local governor has been in the
habit of levying an altogether unjust and illegal tax of krs. 5 per
kharwar (3^. per cwt.) on all grain moved out of the province,
whether to other provinces or abroad.
Charcoal.
A small export to Baku from Resht.
Clothing.
Import. —Underclothing, such as socks, undervests, and
drawers of all qualities both in wool and cotton, for both men
and women’s wear, cotton and flannel shirts, &c., is finding favour
with the middle and upper classes in the larger towns. Teheran
is the best market, and is supplied largely from Tabriz through
Persian traders with Constantinople. A large proportion of these
articles are of British origin. Cotton blankets (imitation wool),
known as Austrian blankets, obtain a fairly wide sale (price
Tabriz krs. 4 to krs. 6 per piece). Ladies’ wearing apparel,
bonnets, muffs, and general millinery find a limited market in
Teheran only.
Handkerchiefs (printed) for women’s headgear find a fairly
wide sale. 1 J
An increasing demand for boots and shoes (men and women’s)
of European shape is noted. Walking boots appear to come
chiefly from Austria, long riding boots (chakmeh) from Russia,
and fancy shoes and slippers from France. Rubber poloshec
from Russia are much used.
The underclothing imported is said to be largely composed
of odd lots and clearing sale goods picked up by traders on
their annual visits to Europe, and traders state that prices are
so precarious it is impossible to do business in regular lines.
Export. Persian cloaks (abbas), socks, cotton shoes (odvehs)
gloves, handkerchiefs, &c., are exported from Azerbaijan to
Caucasia and Turkey, and find a market amongest the Muham-
medan population in those regions.
Coffee.
Import.— From India. Demand limited. Wholesale price
Bu shire, landed and cleared, krs. 14 to krs. 17 per man (7*7 lbs —
8fi. per lb.) ; Hamadan, krs. 14 per Tabriz man (g\d. per lb.).'
Cottons.—5^ Textiles.
About this item
- Content
This part contains papers mostly relating to British interests in Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
It includes a copy of the Board of Trade Commercial Intelligence Committee ‘Report received from Mr. H. W. Maclean, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, on the conditions and prospects of British trade in Persia.’
A handwritten note at the front of the file, on folio 5, states ‘Spare copy of notes & correspondence of the “Helmand Control” file (with maps)’. Folio 110 consists of handwritten notes, including one dated 27 April 1904, which states ‘The secret Helmand papers have been printed up, and a set, with necessary maps, is submitted for H.E. the Viceroy to take to England.’ Much of the file concerns the question of controlling the water of the Helmand river and irrigating its whole delta, and the work of the Seistan Arbitration Commission to arbitrate between Persia and Afghanistan on the question of rights to the water of the Helmand in Seistan.
The file also includes reports by W A Johns on reconnaissances of potential railway routes made while he was attached to the Seistan Arbitration Commission, and other papers relating to railways and roads in Persia.
In addition, the file includes copies of the following Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, which reproduce received Foreign Department correspondence on the following subjects: ‘Selection of a British naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .’, November 1901, Nos. 74-83; ‘Visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during November-December 1903.’, February 1904, Nos. 33-127; ‘Establishment of telegraphic communication with Henjam. Question of the selection of a naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Aggressive action of the Persians at Tamb and Abu Musa; their claim to the Islands.’, June 1904, Nos. 300-388; ‘Reports of the Commercial Mission to Persia.’, June 1905, Nos. 45-111; ‘Question of retaining flagstaffs erected in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory’, August 1905, Nos. 288-307.’
The file also includes: brief handwritten notes written by Curzon on headed paper belonging to the Viceregal Lodge, Simla, relating to Seistan and to Lord Kitchener’s planned reforms for the reorganisation and redistribution of the Indian Army; and a printed copy of the report ‘A Note by Major H.L. [Herbert Lionel] Showers, C.I.E., on the present state of affairs in Kelat and a review of the system of Administration now being pursued.’
The file includes four maps: ‘Map of the Tail waters of Helmand River’ (13 July 1903), f 122; ‘Plan Shewing Proposed Routes for a Railway from Nushki to Afghan Frontier near Robat’ (10 April 1903), f 139; ‘Extract from Admiralty Chart No. 753. (Entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ).’ (October 1901), f 219; and ‘Sketch of route Ram Hormuz to Fellahieh.’ (April 1904), f 230.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (475 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in no apparent order, apart from the Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, folios 231 to 474, which are arranged in chronological order.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [26v] (51/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000034> [accessed 30 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- front, 2r:194v, 195v:196r, 197v:199v, 200v, 201v, 203r:272r, 273v:275v, 277r:405v, 408r:408v, 409v, 411r:413v, 414v:419v, 420v:424v, 425v:432v, 433v:435v, 436v, 437v:443v, 444v:471v, 473r:475v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence