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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [33r] (64/949)
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.
PR INCIPAL ARTICLES OF COMMERCE- 3 j
Number in
Table of
Statistics.
68
force. Being an article which cannot be indented for on sample,
the wholesale dealer in Persia must have a capable agent in
Calcutta or Hong Kong. Persia takes some 250,000/. worth of
tea annually, but no British or Indian traders appear to have gone
into the business on a large scale.
Indian Tea.
Indian tea forms quite 80 per cent, of the total imports of tea
into Persia, and the bulk of it may be valued at 5 to 4 annas per
lb. c.i.f. Gulf ports. It is the only tea consumed by the peasantry
and lower classes, and is sold all over the country. In Hamadan,
where it had been selling before the introduction of the Tariff of
1903 at krs. 11 to krs. 12 per Tab. man, the price has risen to
krs. 16 to krs. 17. The teas most widely consumed in Teheran
range at present from krs. 20 to krs. 25 per Tab. man, cash.
China Tea*
This forms about 8 per cent, only of the total tea imports.
It is chiefly “ white,” that is with leaves of white or greyish
colour. The demand is for better class teas, averaging about
is. 2d. per lb., c.i.f. the Gulf. The consumption is amongst the
upper classes in the larger towns, such as Shiraz, Ispahan,
Teheran, and Meshed. The annual consumption in this last
market is estimated by a local dealer at 5,000 to 6,000 cases of
Indian, 200 cases of China, and 300 cases of Java.
The ruling price in Teheran for white tea is krs. 36 per Tabriz
man, cash.
Batavian Tea.
The consumption of this variety is somewhat less than that
of China tea. Batavian tea also comes chiefly under the class of
“ white ” tea, or tea possessing a percentage of silver or grey-
tipped leaves. The chest of 130 lbs. contains eight boxes. As a
type, “ No. 22 ” quality, costing about 925. c.i.f. the Gulf, may
be cited.
Batavian tea competes with Chinese as abetter class article
for the upper classes. The best markets are Teheran and Tabriz.
In the Meshed market it was selling, in August 1903, at krs 6 to
krs. 6-30 per lb. ; Teheran krs. 35 to krs. 38 per Tabriz man,
cash.
Russian Tea.
In packets of \ hint, i funt, and 1 funt, or .“.karvanker.”
The sale of these Russian packets has met mth a limited success
in the northern provinces on the strength of the reputation of
Russian caravan tea. One sample marked on the wrapper at
Rbls. i’40 per funt for retail in Russia was offered for export to
Persia wholesale from Batoum at 38 copecks. (Samples are sent
with this report, as it may be interesting to know whether this is
Indian or China tea.) The Russian Customs allow a drawback of
80 copecks per funt on tea exported to Persia. Very little is
taken by Khorassan, and the imports to Azerbaijan are decreasing.
A large quantity appears to have been imported last year for
Teheran. Prices in Teheran, krs. 4 to krs. 4'8o per funt (= 80
miskals), cash, retail. .
An attempt is being made to introduce the cultivation of tea
at Lahijan, some 28 miles east of Resht. Some39 0 » 000 plants,
now two and three years old, are reported to be doing well, and
. the proprietor, formerly Persian Consul in Calcutta, states that
the climate seems well suited to the Indian plant. (A sample is
sent.)
E 4
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’ [33r] (64/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000041> [accessed 26 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