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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [29r] (56/949)
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.
/.
Number in
Table of
Statistics.
40
Principal articles of commerce. 23
Lamb Skins.
There is a valuable trade in lamb skins to Russia, chiefly from
Shiraz. The valuable skins, those which will retain after cleaning
the natural close curl of the wool, are obtained only from the
Arab flocks. The Kashgais cannot rear the same stock. The
skins are collected by buying agents sent round the district, and
are packed in bales of about 130 pairs. Price depends greatly on
quality, it may average say krs. 20 per pair, but the finest skins
are double that price. The skins' of unborn lambs are reputed of
finest quality, and this is said to give rise to maltreatment of
ewes. Expenses of collecting, cleaning, packing, &c., come to
about krs. 2 per skin, transport to Moscow and Russian Customs
to some krs. 3 per skin. Shiraz skins rank next to Bokhara skins
in the Moscow market. Export from Ears, 6,000 to 8,000 bales
per annum. Koweit also furnishes these skins, which are
forwarded to Russia vid Bagdad and Kermanshah. In 1902 the
price there was ^T8 per 100 skins. In the spring of 1903 it
was ;£Ti6. In Bagdad, 1902, it was ^"Tio, and in the spring of
1903, ^Ti6 per 100.
These skins all go to Astrakhan, where they are dressed. It
seems there is no market for them, undressed, in Great Britain.
There is a smaller trade of, perhaps, 20,000 skins from the
Hamadan district, at an average price of krs. 10 per skin.
They are also imported in some quantities from Afghanistan
to Meshed, and exported thence to Russia.
Leather.
An important export to Russia, consisting chiefly of sheep and
goat skins tanned and dyed in Tabriz and Hamadan. Sorted in
sizes, five skins to a bundle. Sheepskins, krs. 15 (5s. 5^.) to
krs. 23 (8s. 4^.) per bundle. Goat skins, krs. 15 (5s. 5^.) to
krs. 32 (1 is. 6<5?.) per bundle. Hamadan skins a little more than
these prices. Rough tanned skins for covering bales and cases,
krs. 8 to krs. 10 per bundle (about 3s. 3^.).
Sables, Fox Skins, &c.
There is a trade of some krs. 300,000 to 400,000 per annum in
fox and sable skins from the Shiraz district to Russia. Fox skins,
krs. (2s.) to krs. 7 (2s. 6d.) each, according to quality. Fox
skins are also exported from Azerbaijan to Russia to the extent of
20,000 to 25,000 skins per annum ; they are worth krs. 10 (35. 7^.)
to krs. 1 1 (45.) per pair, and sell in Russia at Rbls. 3 to Rbls. 4
per pair. From Tabriz about 5,000 or 6,000 sable skins are
exported annually to Russia; price, krs. 20 to krs. 30 per skin.
The weight is about 100 skins to the poud, and Russian duty on
import is Rbls. 75 per poud. Sables in Shiraz are quoted at
krs. 12 (45. 2^) to krs 22 (8s.) per skin. The export through
Kazvin from Central Persia is estimated at 100,000 fox and 10,000
sables. Fox, krs. 8 per pair; sables, krs. 22 per pair.
The sable here referred to is the Mustela Martis (dalak). See
Schindler’s “ Eastern Persian Irak,” page 40.
There are a few other skins such as wolf skins, krs. 4 to
krs. 5, and hare skins, exported in small quantities.
Instruments, Musical and Scientific.
The demand is exceedingly limited, and there is no opening for
regular business.
D 4
27, 28
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’ [29r] (56/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000039> [accessed 28 July 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