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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [50r] (98/949)
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
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65
NOTES ON COMMERCIAL CENTRES, &C.
Pilfering from bales or cases is frequently complained of, and the
charvadar disowns liability on the ground that the theft may have been
committed between Bushire and Shiraz, before he took over the goods in
Shiraz.
The Post Office mails and passengers are now carried as far as Maksudbeg
by wagon or carriage. The service is in the hands of the contractor for the
Teheran-lspahan mails, a Persian subject.
Much of the trade with Kazvin and Resht goes through Naizar and
Saveh. Dried fruits and cotton are often sent direct to Kazvin and disposed
of there to exporters to Russia.
There is some trade with Yezd through Kuhpa, but foreign trade in
Yezd generally follows the Bunder Abbas and Shiraz routes.
Shiraz.
Chief products for export—Opium, tombac, gum, skins and pelts, dried
fruits and nuts, cotton, carpets.
Much of the business in Shiraz is done by Persian merchants dealing with
Bombay.
In the piece-goods trade a large amount of business is reported to have
been done of late in Bushire directly with the smaller traders, who consign
to Shiraz and compete closely there.
Trade Routes.
To Bushire ’em Kazeroon.
Through freight is sometimes engaged from Shiraz to Teheran, in which
case caravans diverge to the right from the trunk route at Surmeh, and,
following nearly parallel tracks, pass to the east of Ispahan near Segzi and
strike the Natanz-Kashan road. It is stated by charvadars that this is an
easy route for caravan animals, and that, being off the main road, fodder
and provisions are cheaper.
Trade with Yezd follows the Ispahan road and strikes off to the right
near Dehbid.
Ham ad an.
Population estimated locally at 50,000.
Chief products for export—Leather, opium, skins and pelts, carpets.
The Hamadan tanneries are the best in Persia, and its leather, chiefly goat
and sheep skins, is sent all over the country, and exported through Tabriz
to Russia.
Gallnuts are obtained from Kurdistan, and a small quantity, but good,—
from Luristan. Alum is obtained from Zanjan.
Trade Usages, Credits, &c.
Hamadan, however, is more important as a distributing market in the
piece-goods trade, and does as large a business in certain goods as Ispahan.
Whites, greys, light prints, and red twills are the chief kinds sold.
A few traders work by indent on Manchester through Bagdad shippers,
with whom they lodge a 10 per cent, margin. The shipper claims amount of
manufacturer’s invoice and charges to Bagdad on arrival of the goods there,
and usually has right of sale if the goods are not taken up within 45 days
after arrival.
Interest on advances, or commission, is not usually charged on piece-goods,
so presumably the shipper’s profit ts made in Manchester. On other goods—
2 per cent, commission appears to be the common charge.
Most of the Hamadan merchants buy in Bagdad, and quite half of the
import trade is worked by the Jewish^merchants of Bagdad. It is reported
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’ [50r] (98/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000063> [accessed 11 August 2026]
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- 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