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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [28r] (54/949)
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.
21
Number in
Table of
Statistics.
22
34
Some 1,500 sacks (180 lbs. each) are exported annually from
Kazvin. Value about krs. 35 per pond. Expenses to Enzeli,
krs. 4 per poud.
Walnuts.
Some 500 kharwars of walnuts are sent annually from the
Demavend district to Russia. Average price, krs. 9 per poud,
and krs. 5 per poud charges to Meshed-i-ser.
Raisins.
Export.— Principal markets, Tabriz, Kazvin, Ispahan, Meshed,
Kerman. Exported from Bunder Abbas to India, but the bulk
of the trade is to Russia. The most important market is that
of Tabriz, supplied from the vineyards of Maragha and Urmiah.
The production of sultana raisins (sabzeh) has been most profit
able in these regions, and new ground is being brought under
cultivation continually. The production has greatly increased,
perhaps doubled, during the last 10 years. The trade is almost
entirely in the hands of Armenians. The grapes, when ripe, are
gathered, dipped in a solution of potash, dried for a few days, and
then sorted and packed in boxes containing one poud net for the
Russian market, or \ kilos, net for the European market. The
Maragha raisins all go to Russia, whilst the Urmiah raisins, which
remain clean, and do not cake together under packing, are more
suited for the European markets. A Trebizond house has of
late years taken considerable quantities of these raisins, probably
for Germany and Britain. The price in krs. (silver) in Maragha
has gradually risen, whilst the selling price in Russia has
remained fairly steady at Rbls. 3 to Rbls. 3J per poud. Ten years
ago the price of raisins in Maragha was krs. 5J to krs. 6 per
poud. The price current in July 1903 was krs. 8 to krs. 10
per poud (say ios. 2d. per cwt.) Some 300,000 pouds of
sultanas (sabzeh) are calculated to go out from Kazvin annually,
average value about krs. 8*50 (35. \d) per poud (gs. 6 d. per
cwt.), and some 100,000 pouds of plain dried raisins (mavis), aver
age value, krs. 5 per poud ( 55 . 8 d. per cwt.), but these estimates of
quantities appear too large • Expenses, Kazvin to Enzeli, are
about krs. 3*50 per poud.
Furniture.
Import. —Very little cabinet work or upholstery is imported,
as Persians do not furnish in European fashion.
Large quantities of cheap glass lamps are imported, also
brass and white metal candlesticks, all of which are classed
as furniture, and pay duty at 5 per cent, ad ’valorem under
section 22, 2 (a) of the tariff. Superior lamps are imported from
Austria and Britain. These and the immense variety of vases and
fancy ware of metal and glass, or porcelain, from ash-trays to
candelabra, which are imported, pay duty at 20 per cent, ad
'valorem under section 22, 2 (^). The several parts of such
objects are now being sent out as much as possible in separate
consignments as glassware, pottery, and metal, and are mounted
at destination.
See note under heading of Mercery and Hardware (p. 24).
D 3
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’ [28r] (54/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000037> [accessed 3 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