"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية: العمليات في بلاد فارس ١٩١٤-١٩١٩" [و‎‎١‎٩] (٥٦٦/٤٢)

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irrigation and cultivation, an enormous development of agri
culture is possible. At present, wheat, rice and barley are grown Agricuitiind
in more than sufficient quantities for the country’s needs, and supp ies ‘
the constant famines are due to transportation difficulties and
not to crop failures or shortage. Cotton, tobacco, opium, grapes,
dates and melons are also grown in considerable quantities
and there is a little maize, millet, sugar, indigo and henna.
The Russian garrisons of Trans-Caspia and Turkestan drew
most of their supplies from Persia, and there was a consider
able export of grain and sheep from Azerbaijan. It was thus
evident that a large military force could easily find subsistence
in Northern Persia, while it was also estimated that a force
of some size could supply itself while traversing South Persia.
No satisfactory estimate is possible of the number of animals Animals,
in the country. But very many horses, mules, camels, donkeys
and bullocks are bred for transport purposes, cattle are kept
wherever there is sufficient grazing, and there are large numbers
of sheep and goats.
Manufactures are practically limited to carpets and shawls Manufactures
and the domestic trade of the country is unimportant.
The unit of money is the kran, whose value varies with the Finance,
price of silver. It was worth about fourpence-halfpenny in
1914 and twenty-two krans went to the gold toman, which
was, however, seldom in circulation. The Imperial Bank of
Persia, one of the two banks in the country, was incorporated
by Royal British Charter in 1889. It had the right to issue
bank notes and to advance money to a limited extent to the
Persian Government. It had branches in all the important
towns and was the most important British institution in the
country. The other bank was Russian, virtually a Russian
Government institution and, also with branches in all the
important towns, filled an important part in Russian policy.
Persia is said to be very rich in minerals, of which the most Minerals,
important are coal, copper, lead, iron, manganese, zinc, nickel,
cobalt and petroleum. Owing, however, to scarcity of water
and transport difficulties, attempts by Europeans to work
the mines have not been successful, with the sole exception
of the petroleum field east-south-east of Shushtar. This
is worked by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company under a
concession from the Persian Government and subsidiary
financial arrangements with the Bakhtiari khans and the
Shaikh of Mohammerah. The British Government, with a
considerable financial interest in the company, has a voice
in the direction of its general policy.