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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [29v] (57/949)
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.
Report on trade of Persia.
Machinery, Implements, &c.
For agricultural machinery, implements, &c., there is positively
no demand. Reaping machines, even scythes, are unknown, and
would be unsuitable for the small irregular patches in which
irrigated land has to be worked. Ploughs, harrows, sickles,
shovels, picks, and hoes in use in the agricultural districts are all
of primitive Eastern type.
Industries seem fated to disaster in Persia, and ventures in
sugar, yarns, gas, matches, and pottery, have stopped work. The
mint imported new machinery from Belgium a couple of years
ago. Electric lighting machinery has been imported recently to
Teheran and Tabriz. Some drying furnaces for cocoons have
been imported to Resht. In smaller articles stocking knitting
machines sell well, and sewing machines are reported to be sought
after.
1 Matches.
Austrian matches in round boxes still have the largest sale in
Persia, being imported vid Trebizond, and generally used in
North-Western and Central Persia, including Teheran, Ispahan,
and Hamadan. Russian safety matches find an increasing market
in Tabriz, Teheran and Khorassan. The Russian Customs allow a
refund of excise of Rs 2 50 per case of 1,000 boxes on export to
Persia. Swedish safety matches imported via the Gulf, in cases of
50 gross, which are divided into two for mule transport, find markets
as far north as Ispahan and Teheran. The case of 25 gross in
Shiraz, March 1903, was quoted krs. 120 to krs. 130 (555. 6^.).
2 Mercery and Hardware.
The multifarious wares which fall under this class are mostly
imported from Russia and Austria. Enamelled iron ware is
chiefly of Russian origin, and in Khorassan was reported better
than the ware imported from India. This ware is not greatly
sought after by the peasants, who prefer earthenware. The
demand in Teheran and some of the large towns for ironmongery
of the class of plain (rim. not mortise) locks, hinges, bolts, and
door and window fastenings suitable for double doors and
windows with very light frames is increasing.
' A great many of the articles under this heading are imported
in small lots by traders returning from Russia, India, or Europe,
and prices are reported to be very capricious.
Cutlery,
British knives, pen-knives, scissors, &c., have a high reputation,
but are undersold by cheap German and Austrian goods. The
market for table cutlery is limited, as these articles are not used
in Persian houses.
Note.--// is difficult to dec 'de precisely what articles are com*
prised in the totals given in the Statistics under the headings of
Mercery and Hardware^ Glassware^ Furmture, Pottery and
Manufactures of Metals.
j Metals.
Brass and copper are largely imported in sheets, the biggest
market being Ispahan, supplied from Bushire Prices (Teheran
November 1903), of copper sheets 80 inches by 50 inches,
weighing 4J to 7 Tabriz mans, krs. 17 to krs, 20, cash, per
Tabriz man (about 6s. 8d.). Ditto weighing 18 to 20 Tabriz mans,
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’ [29v] (57/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x00003a> [accessed 20 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