'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎573r] (1147/1386)

TEHRAN.
11
strong support which the company appears to have from Govern
ment quarters, cannot fail to make the combination a strong one.
The company is now proposing to build a caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). on
the right bank of the river, opposite that on the left bank at
Ahwaz, where already a large village, inhabited by Arabs
attracted by trade, has sprung up. This serai is intended for the
export and import trade of Hovvizah (45 miles to the west), a
prosperous town and fertile district, producing both wheat and
rice. By storing, loading, and unloading there the present labour
of carrying by boat across the stream will be avoided.
A large trade in wheat is coming on, Messrs. Lynch last year Trade, export
exporting 2,000 , tons. Rice, oil-seed, and cotton may soon be and import,
largely added ; wool also, but it is said to be rather coarse. The
Arab traders also carry down large quantities of wheat, oil-seed,
&c., which all go to Busrah, thus entailing Turkish customs duty
in addition to Persian. This means a total of over 13 per cent,
export duty on native-owned grain. In answer to this growing
trade in the Karun Valley, and the improving circumstances of
the people, there is an increasing import of English and Indian
cotton goods, and of sugar. The sugar is French loaf, which,
owing to its low price, is pushing its way as far north as
Sultanabad. At Linga, in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , this sugar in the
present month was selling at 2%d. per lb.
The British India steamers call regularly at Mohamrah to
give and take mails, but irregularly as yet for cargo, so Busrah
still continues to be the export market for grain from the Karun.
But the Persian Government is now paying closer attention to
Mohamrah, and a grain bazaar may soon be established there.
The Muayin-ut-Tujjar has had this pointed out to him as not
only what is wanted to make that excellent port a regular one of
shipment, and so give a strong impetus to Karun trade, but as
in itself certain to be a good paying business in market fees.
I voyaged down from Ahwaz in Messrs. Lynch’s steamer, the Messrg.
«Blosse Lynch,” a fine river boat of 300 tons, 100 horse-power Lynch's river
in two separate engines of 50 horse-power each. She has two steamer,
decks, 225 feet long by 45 feet beam. Leaving Ahwaz at
6.30 A.M., Mohamrah was reached at 5 p.m. At Kajuriya, about
45 miles down, on the right bank, a telegraph office is in course
of completion, with quarters for a military guard.
All the material for a telegraph line from Mohamrah to Arabistan
Ahwaz has been collected and distributed, and construction is telegraph
about to commence. The poles are all from Zanzibar. The line
from Ahwaz to Shuster and Dizful is in good working order.
At Mohamrah I was accommodated in the new Government Mohamrah
House at the “Point” where the Karun joins the Shat-el-Arab, (aboutno
a little below the town. This building is just being completed. ALatom
It is two storied, with excellent offices, and is well and promi
nently situated, looking down the main stream. Opposite are
neat artillery and infantry barracks. All appear well built, and
they certainly make a good show. All these buildings have been
constructed by Mirza Bazurg Khan, the eldest of three brothers,