‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎422r] (842/949)

information outside the Customs House at Bunder Ahbas, nor ciculated to
mercbants, with the consequence that traders do not no where they are.
Also as regards Customs duties &c., at present the regulations, &c., are in
French, no Persian or English translations being generally or easily available
and it certainly seems necessary that traders should be given conies in both
these languages whenever they want them. ^
Dakaiti. Highway robbery at present very common in Persia ; would be
very generally curtailed, if not put a stop to, I think, were there more small
telegraph offices all through the country, or, at all events, at the head
quarters of all Governors. This would enable head-quarters to be quickly
advised of any crime which took place. This now taken weeks to do •
and with the increase m the length of time lost, the chance of capturing the
criminals decieases. A pioper system of patrolling the roads, worked through
the Kalanters oi Mayois of sub-divisions, would also greatly assist in suppress
ing dakaiti, together with the proper fixing of responsibility on Governors.
At present the great game seems to be for each Governor to deny that the
dakaiti took place in his district, and try and shift the responsibility on to his
neighbour. The consequence is that, while the authorities delay and dispute,
so much time elapses that the chances are all in favour of the robber.
If any special. cess were necessary for road insurance, the small amount
might be included in the Customs or made a terminal charge at the port, and
would, I expect, not be objected to by merchants.
One means of obviating dakaiti would be the establishment of a Govern
ment transport train, worked under British supervision. British subjects
are, as a rule, left alone by dakaits. This is in a great measure due to the
energy of Major Sykes. Whenever a case occurs, such a thorough investigation
is made and the culprits brought to book, or the Governor made responsible, that
it has become distinctly a game that does not pay.
Another method which presents itself to me is that whenever goods from
India are being despatched up-country from parts, that the Consular officials at
those parts should advise the Consular officials in the districts of destination, and
through which they are to pass, and these officers would then arrange for the
necessary precautions being taken.
I now proceed to analyse the trade of Sirjan.
Cotton. —Sir]an district produces some 2,000 maunds (Indian) a year. All
this is consumed locally, either in the manufacture of a coarse, thin cloth, of
which about 100,000 zar are used a year, or for the woof for carpets. There
are no prospects of increasing the cultivation of cotton, as the water-supply is
limited and food-crops have to be raised. The staple, too, is short, too short, I
think, for use in our Indian mills. I send you specimens however.
JFool—The entire produce of the district, which is very small, is used in
manufacture of carpets, and there is none available for export.
Leather.—I lYiqvq is no trade in this commodity, nor in hides. What few
hides are available are tanned locally and used by the Khans. The tanning is
done with the bark of the wild almond and the leaves of the wild pistachio tree.
The leather produced is of a very pale almond colour and inferior m quality.
It seems to meet the local requirements however. The shoes worn ere are
made, both uppers and soles, of cotton. • •
Fabrics, cotton. —Cotton materials are in universal use. Of the stuffs com-
monly used, samples have been sent you in the natural undye s a e, p
(cost) attached. The dye most in use is indigo, of a poor quality.
Fabrics, woollen.—As far as I have been able to observe
through the researches of my staff, hardly any bo y seems , f i > jj a j r
clothes. The blankets, such as they are, are locally woven out of camels ha .
Sugar. —There is a very considerable demand for an ‘p
especially Marseilles loaf and of crystal sugar trom Mauritius and Bussia.