'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia: About 1889-1890' [‎585v] (1191/1486)

opium, cotton, wool, turquoises, dried fruits, almonds, carpets, and
shawls. A very large proportion of the goods from Europe and
India pass on to Russian territory and to Afghanistan. Opium is
the only native article exported in any quantity (130,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. ,
or 37,143/. worth) towards InVlia, its destination being China.
^ 50,000 tumans, or 14,286/. worth, also went to Constantinople via
Teheran. Of other native goo is only about 6,350 tumans, or
1,814/. worth, found their way to India. Wool, cotton, dried
^ fruits, turquoises, &c., to the value of 390,050 tumans (111,442/.)
were exported to Russia.
Extent of the The provinces of Khorassaii and Seistan are aoout 200,000
provinces of sf . uare miles in extent. The province of Seistan is practically only
Seistan U in ' 51 division of Kain. It is very sparsely populated, and does no
trade to speak of; but the soiilis said to be very fertile, and the
country capable of great development. Wool is sent from there
to Bander Abbas for exportation!
The revenue of Khorassan dnd Seistan for the past year was
539,000 tumans (154,000/.) in c^h, and 43,000 kharwars (12,464
tons) of grain (^ wheat and. ^ barley), and 13,600 kharwars
(3,942 tons) of kah (chopped’ siraw). Seistan contributed only
26,000 tumans (7,429/.) in cash, c nd 24,000 kharwars (6,957 tons)
of grain towards the above.
Of this revenue 96,400 tumans (27,543/.) goes to the Shah
87,200 tumans (24,914/.) of the cash, and 9,200 tumans (2,629/.)
the price of grain. The remainder is absorbed in pensions,
salaries, pay of troops, &c. I
The population of Khorassan aVd Seistan is perhaps 500,000,
but it is difficult to arrive even at ak approximate estimate, as no
regular census is taken. The population of Meshed, including a
Eerenue.
Population.
Factories.
Wages.
floating population of 8,000 pilgrim^ is something under 50,000.
There are in the town 650 loons for silk weaving, 320 looms
for shawl weaving, and 40 carpet weaving looms. Very coarse
cotton and woollen cloths are also m mufactured, and very inferior
earthenware articles, soap, and tallow candles. Copper vessels
Bazaar prices.
are largely made.
Wages are as follows :—
Currency.
Sterling.
Krans.
s. d.
Carpenters ..
Per di
m 3
1 9
Masons .. .. .
91
1 2
Blacksmiths ..
n
0 11
Labourers
99
i
0 7
Bread costs about W. per lb., an
d mutton 2 -|<i. per lb. Fowls
are 7<7. each.