‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎446v] (891/949)

not give long credits, Persian traders dealing with Russia are able to get all the
credit they want and also to get an advantage where the customs are concerned,
by dealing through the Russian Bank at Tehran, which acts as a clearing
agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and Bonded warehouse, taking over a merchants goods on part payment
and note of hand, paying customs dues and charges; and letting the trader have
a portion of the goods he has ordered, a fourth or a half as the case may be to
trade with and make enough money to release the remainder when he wants.
It seems to me that some such arrangement might be made with the Im
perial Bank of Persia on behalf of British and Indian trade.
For goods purchased in Persia from Kerman or Yezd, there is no special
rule, goods being paid for sometimes in cash and cerdit mostly half credit being
some times given for periods varying from 5 months to a year.
riculture.
The lands around Bam, and in the District, are mostly in the hands of a
few Khans who have very extensive holdings, which they look after them
selves, the villagers being their labourers for the most part. There are however
certain Government or Khalsa lands mostly used for rice growing and a small
amount of raiaticari. Small tenant farmers or peasant proprietors are the
exception in Persia, even the wild Baluok villages being owned entirely by
Khans or Maliks.
The Bam region is well watered, drawing its supplies from both open
irrigation channels and from Kanats. In dry years when the winter rains and
snows have been scanty, the streams often fail, hut the Kanat supplies may be
depended on, so long as the tunnels are kept clean.
Agricultural implements are primitive. A very light and weak plough,
something like the plough used in the Kumaon Himalayas, and a very long
handled narrow spade, are the chief. These are supplemented by a wooden
harrow and an instrument for loosening the spade worked soil, resembling a
quaint dining fork, also made of wood.
Russian Activity.
The Russian Consul in Kerman, M. Miller has been showing signs of
activity recently. Shortly after we left Kerman he induced the English speak
ing Master of the Parsee Anjumm school, one Mirza Kaikhusru, to leave his
post and take Russian service as an agent for the pushing of Russian trade in
these parts of Persia, sending him to Odessa to receive certain orders from and
give certain information to the authorities there. Another Agent lie sent via
Bunder Abbas, round up the gulf through Asiatic Turkey to Constantinople
presumably for a similar purpose. This is evidently meant as a counterblast to
the Mission.
He also tried to plant an agent in Bam, trying to induce the leading
Mohammedan merchant here, Saiid Abbas, to take up the post, pending the
receipt of official sanction from Tehran. The man considered the matter
for a while, but has now I am told, finally refused, declaring that he does not
wish to be in opposition to the English and to the Khan Bahadur, with whom
he has always been friends.
Indian Trade Advertisement.
It seems to me that a very good way of advertising Indian trade and
bringing Persia into touch with India and its manufactures, would be to move
the Government of India to purchase for consular toshahhanapurposes instead of
German gimcracks, as much as possible, articles produced and manufactured in
India. It would have no difficulty in finding suitable articles.
Cawnpore alone could supply suitable leather, woollen and cotton
goods, and other things could be got in other places. Our saddlery suit cases
leather mule trunks, boots, tents and samples of woollen materials have
been the subject of universal comment admiration and surprise, the invariable
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