‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [27r] (52/949)
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.
PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF COMMERCE.
T 9
Drugs.
%
Import- —Supplies are imported in small consignments direct
from Europe by doctors, chemists, and druggists. There is one
chemist in Teheran reported to do a large business with the
retail traders in town and country.
Dyes.
Aniline Dyes,
The import is prohibited in Persia, but the employment of
them continues. Certain Alizarine dyes, recognised as superior
and faster colours in comparison with the vegetable dyes in these
tints, are now admitted into the country.
Henna.
Export- —Produced in the Yezd-Kerman region, and exported
vid Resht and Tabriz to Russia and Turkey. Price, Bushire,
krs. aj per man.
Indigo.
Import- —From India. Has been a steady trade of some
40,000/. value per annum till 1900, but the last two years show
a decided decrease. Largely used for dyeing native and imported
cotton textiles; also in the carpet industry. The bulk of the
trade is in the inferior qualities. The trade is likely to suffer
from the decay of the native printing and dyeing industries in
Persia. Synthetic indigo is now employed to some extent.
Madder.
Grown in Ispahan, Yezd, Shuster, and Kurdistan districts.
Exported in small quantites from the Karun, There is also a
small trade from Tabriz to Russia in madder and yellow berry.
Fish.
The valuable fisheries of the Caspian seaboard have been
leased to the Russian firm of Lianozoff since 1888. This lease has
been renewed from time to time, and is now terminable about
1925. The rental is at present some 18,000/. per annum,
increasing in the latter years of the lease to 20,000/. per annum.
This industry has not been safeguarded in the Russo-Persian
Customs tariff against increase of duty in Russia. It is stated,
however, that the Russian Government has decided to admit the
products of these fisheries (caviare, sturgeon, salmon, &c.), into
Russia at rates equivalent to the former 5 per cent, ad valorem
duties, and it is presumed this privilege will hold good up to the
termination of the existing contract between the Persian Govern
ment and Lianozoff. There are important fishing interests on the
Russian seaboard of the Caspian which would have profited from
an increase of duty on Lianozoff’s Persian products.
The more important fishing grounds are worked by the lessee.
He sublets some of the smaller stations.
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’ [27r] (52/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000035> [accessed 15 July 2026]
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- 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
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