تقارير ومراسلات تتعلق ببلاد فارس، بما يشمل التجارة ومساراتها في بلاد فارس [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٤] (٢٥٢/٢٢٨)

4
30/A April .—Complaints hare reached me from Quetta regarding one
Jehangir Khan, a Seistani Baluch, who gave the local authorities much un
necessary trouble about some petty loss he had suffered on the road. This
Jehangir Khan was a member of a caravan which travelled to Quetta some
months ago. It was afterwards discovered that he was in Russian pay, and was
sent to Quetta to gain some information about the road and with the object of
damaging its reputation by false reports. He has now returned here and has
been giving an account of his journey to the Russian Vice-Consul. He is said
to have informed Mr. Miller that Captain Webb Ware had gone to Mirjawa
with “ 100 infantry ” to build a fort. Mr. Miller replied that Mons. Zaroudny
(the naturalist referred to in my diary No. 3), who was returning to Seistan,
would be able to give him full information on the subject.
I hear from other sources that Mons. Zaroudny is expected here shortly.
Trade News.
1. The Armenian merchant, Mons. Istatoroff, has left Seistan. He aban
doned his trip to Koh-i-Malik Siah, but left money with an agent to buy wool
and ghi .. He took 10 camel-loads of wool with him. He intends returning to
Seistan in four months’ time, bringing with him goods which he considers he
will be able to sell cheaper here than British merchants, such as petroleum,
Russian cloth and sugar. Before his departure he tried to arrange for the
construction of a wine distilling apparatus, and ordered about 40 larsre recep
tacles for grapes. The head Mulla, however, protested and warned him not to
introduce the apparatus into Seistan.
2. A Hindu merchant, Tek Chand, a partner in the firm of Messrs.
Chaman Singh & Co. of Shikarpur, arrived here during the past week. This
firm, as reported in previous diaries, has already got an agent here. Tek
Chand has now asked for permission to build and open shops in Trenchabad
and Husainabad (the village adjacent to the Nasratabad Fort). He has brought
a large quantity of indigo in addition to other merchandise. The former he
will take to Birjand and probably to Meshed.
3. A large caravan of nearly 100 camels belonging to Messrs. Muham
mad Ali Bros, arrived here during the week. Most of the merchandise is
destined for Birjand, but I am arranging that all the camels shall go to pick
up the loads awaiting transport there. They will return from Birjand to
Quetta by the new Palang Koh route.
4. Camel drivers here are complaining against a “rahdari” tax of
krans per camel which the customs officials have lately introduced. The
Customs Collector came to see me on the subject, as the camelmen had one and
all refused to pay. I arranged with him that the settlement of the case should
be allowed to stand over until the arrival of Mons. Spinella, the Belgian
Customs officer, who is expected to arrive in a day or two.
The Birjand-Bohat route via the Falavg Koh.
. A glance at the attached map* will show that the most direct route from
Birjand and Neh to Robat lies along the eastern slopes of the Palang Koh as
far as Harmak. This route, however, has hitherto been unpopular and little
used, preference being given to the more circuitous road via Nasratabad and
Seistan. The reasons given are that the former is deserted and waterless,