![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎45r] (88/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0091.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎45r] (88/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [45r] (88/949)
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.
55
NOTES ON COMMERCIAL CENTRES, &C.
Landing, Warehousing, &c.
The anchorage is quite a mile out, and cargo is landed and embarked as
at Bunder Abbas. Cargo in transit can be landed and retained in Customs
warehouse for a month or six weeks and re-exported without payment
of duty.
Trade Usages, Credits, &c.
There is very little inland business. Imports are chiefly cotton textiles,
and grain, fruit, and other provisions for local consumption. There is a
small trade with Lar, from which some consignments of tombac are exported
to Aden and Turkey. The place is really important as an emporium for
the coast towns and fishing fleets on both shores of the Gulf.
Sailing craft from the Pirate Coast and the fishing ground of the lower
part of the Gulf can usually make a fair course on the prevailing wind both
to and from Lingah. They therefore run in there for stores of all sorts, for
which they pay in pearls, shells, and
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
.
The Persian Government did not appear to realise the peculiar position
of Lingah in this respect, and the Customs for some time showed a
disposition to bring merchandise landed in transit under the operation of
its tariff, which would have driven trade elsewhere. Bahrein lies too far
up the Gulf to gain much advantage, but there is little doubt that if the
British possession of Basidu (Bassidore) had possessed a water-supply and
landing and warehousing facilities trade would have been rapidly transferred
to it. The Persian Government has, however, apparently reconsidered the
matter, and is now disposed to treat the transit trade of Lingah on former
lines.
The small business in mother-of-pearl, mussel and oyster shells might
be considerably developed if arrangements could be made to carry supplies
to the fishing fleets at their stations and receive the shells from the boats,
which at present can carry to market only the take of the last few days
before running to port.
Pearls all go to India, generally by British India mail steamers.
The Customs formerly charged a \ per cent, ad valorem duty on pearls
exported from Lingah, and it now appears likely that they will continue to
adhere to this scale.
No telegraphic comrftunication with Lingah exists.
Trade routes.
To Lar, but of little importance.
Bushire.
Population 20,000 to 25,000. The Customs Returns for 1901-02 and
1902-03 give the following figures as values of imports and exports:—
1902-03.
1901-02.
£
Imports*
Exports
. 795,000
333 > 00 °
The British India Mail Service and local service steamers call weekly
outward and inward.
Steamers of all other Gulf lines also call.
* Excluding bar silver for the Mint.
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [45r] (88/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000059> [accessed 5 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000059
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000059">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎45r] (88/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000059"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0091.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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