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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [40v] (79/949)
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.
46
REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
Number in
Tables of
Statistics.
63,67
Textiles.—Woollen Tissues, Pure and Mixed.
Imports at Bushire and Bunder Abbas per Bushlre Consular
Reports—
£
Average for 3 years, 1895-97 • • .11,100
And for 3 years, 1899-1901 . . . 21,300
The bulk of these goods are imported from Great Britain and
British India, but are probably of wider origin.
Muhammerah imports no woollen goods, except a few blankets
or rugs. Kermanshah also has a very limited trade, importing
perhaps 5,000/. to 6,000/, value annually, in linings, broadcloth,
fa9onn6, suitings and trouserings, blankets, &c. Hamadan is
supplied chiefly from Tabriz.
Tabriz is the greatest inlet for all woollen goods. Trebizond
Consular Reports give imports—
Yearly average
for five years
: —
British.
Other Countries.
Total.
1886-90
£
£
~£
7,900
74,000
81,900
1891-95
l6, l6o
98,380
11 4 , 54 °
1896-1900
14 , 74 °
1 15 , 74 °
130,480
There is little doubt that the trade has made quite, if not more
than, the progress indicated by the Trebizond statistics.
The bulk of the trade is in the hands of the Persian merchants,
dealing through partners or agents in Constantinople, who come
much more into contact with Continental manufacturers than
traders by the Gulf routes.
Broadcloth is a most important line, and comes chiefly from
Austria, but also from Britain, Germany and France. The
largest demand is for goods of medium and low quality, and
shoddy. The trade in broadcloths is still a steady and perhaps
increasing line of business, although fagonne suitings and trouser
ings have recently become popular.
These fa^onne goods, all wool, or cotton and wool, are much
appreciated by the middle and even lower classes as suitings and
trouserings, and are taking the place of broadcloths, double twills
Thibets, &c. British manufactures have taken a good place in
this trade, for which German, Italian, French and Swiss goods all
compete. Woollen Italians are being run out by cotton Italians
Bradford double twill by French all-wool goods, and Bradford
serges and poplins by cheaper cotton fancies.
Double twills, black Italians, union-leather poplins, alpacas,
&c., are often of British manufacture. Merinos, cashmere*
imprimes, woollen satins, &c., are more generally of French or
Continental origin.
The sale of imitation Astrakhan is of some importance as it is
largely used for the manufacture of Persian headgear (“ kolah ”).
Cloth is made up in pieces of 18-inch fold, tilloted ; packed
usually in cases. Bale goods are wrapped in a half piece of
Mexican, which sells along with the bale at half value.
The Tabriz market continues to supply a large part of Persia
Tehran, Hamadan, Ispahan, Yezd, and Khorassan. British
imports through Ispahan, especially of suitings, wool or mixed,
appear to be gaining ground in Yezd and Khorassan. Also
the small trade by the Bunder Abbas and Nushki routes to
Khcrassan show's signs of developing.
Russian imports are mainly through Resht for the Teheran
market.
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’ [40v] (79/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000050> [accessed 8 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