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Chapter XV.—Exports of opium from Persia vid the Persian Gulf.
One of the most interesting features of the commerce of Persia in recent
years has been the wide expansion of the cultivation of opium and its increasing
export by way of the Persian Gulf, especially to China.
The earliest account on the opium trade, in Persia we find in our records is
the following memorandum by Ronald Thomson, dated 6th May 1869:—
Of late years the manufacture of opium in Persia has increased considerably, and the
quantity now exported from the country may be reckoned at double what it was in i860.
The merchants have lately discovered that instead of sending it through Central Asia at
great risk and cost, they can forward this drug at a comparatively small expense to China
by sea, without touching at any British port, and that consequently large profits may be
realized in the trade. The result has been that the poppy is now cultivated in most ot the
provinces of Persia, where the climate appears generally to be extremely favourable to its
growth. Near Tehran, for instance, and in many other districts where it was formerly
almost unknown, large fields are at present under cultivation with this plant; and there is
every reason to believe that a steady increase in the production of opium throughout the
Kingdom will now annually take place.
2. During the year 1868-69 the quantity produced in Persia and imported from Herat
was 151500 Shah mans, each man weighing 13J lbs. It will be seen from the following
statement that Yezd and Ispahan are the districts where the largest quantity is obtained,
though the quantity is inferior to that manufactured in the other provinces ;—
Opium produced in Persia in 1868-69.
Shah mans.
In Kerman and districts Ml *50
Cashan and villages 250
Yezd districts 7.500
Khorassan and Subbus 1,400 I
Teheran villages 200
Ispaban districts 5.0-0
Imported from Herat 1,000
Total 15.50°
3. Of the above 15,500 mans, about 600 or 700 mans were last year consumed in
Persia, and the rest was reported from Bunder Abbas and the other ports in the Persian
Gulfs mostly to Batavia for re-shipment to China. A small quantity found its way to the
Toorkoman desert, having been purchased by Agents from these tribes in various parts of
Khorassan.
4. The quality of this opium varies in the different provinces where it is produced.
In the north near the Caspian sea, whore the climate is exceedingly damp, it is dark in
colour and very inferior in quality. Natives explain its relative quality thus :—The strength
of the manufactures in Kerman and Cashan is given at 20°, that from Khorassan at io°,
from Teheran at 8° and from Yezd and Ispahan 70. About 1,000 Shall mans are also im­
ported annually from Herat, but it is said to be of very inferior quality and is of less value
than that produced at Ispahan. Kerman and Cashan are the two districts where the best
opium is obtained in Persia. Agents have on two occasions been sent from France to
analyse and report on the value of this drug, and they found that, when unadulterated
it contained a large proportion of morphine and was altogether superior to that produced
in Turkey and better also than the average quality prepared in India. Of late, however,
some difficulty has been experienced in the provinces raw in procuring opium in a pure
state, as the Persians frequently while preparing and manipulating the drug, mix, sugar
and other substances with it.
5. The price of unprepared opium at the beginning of last season was 18 Tomans the
Shah matt, but the rates advanced somewhat later to 24 Tomans. Manufactured and in
a pure state, it fetched not less than 30 Tomans for the same quantity in the Persian
market. As already slated, many of the native dealers are in the habit of adulterating
the opium intended for exportation, and several chests were returned from Batavia last
year in consequence.
6. About 15 years ago, opium of the best and purest quality was now in the bazars
here at from 10 to 12 Tomans a Shahman. The entire amount exported from Persia was
sent from Herat to Bokhara, whence it was forwarded through Tartary to the Chinese
frontier. This route was,, hewever, so unsafe, and the expense of transport was so heavy,
that it was abandoned 12 years ago, and most of the produce was then sent in a half pre­
pared state to Constantinople. That route has now been almost entirely discontinued, the
Persian traders having found that it was cheaper and more expeditious to charter a vessel
for the purpose of conveying these consignments lrom the Gulf direct to Batavia.
Dated the 6th May 1869, (Sd.) RONALD THOMSON.
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