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and Bo much envy between rival speculators, that ho thought probably all
would tall through. Sir Lewis Polly was at the time in Calcutta, and tho
papers wore Bent to him for opinion. He prepared a memorandum, dated 20th
jm in No. 47. £PPn »" ■»»«“"• ^y, Dawes
& Co., for opening up tho Karun route
As tho Government of India were prepared to grant a subsidy, ho said all that
remained to do was to specify tho amount of subsidy, and to limit and giT0
preoision to tho terms “countenance and sup port.** Be proposed to make the
amount of the subsidy liberal, and for a short period, rather than stint the
project in its origin and be called on to nourish it for an indefinite .period. As
regards the terms “countenance and support "he thought Government should
not commit theynselves to any special political action, and that the projectors
and traders along the Karun line should only receive the protection and justice
derivable from our Treaties with Persia, and from the influence of our Political
Agents there. So far as Gray, Dawes & Co’s project was concerned, ho did
not consider that it devolved on Government to survey tho line, yet he thought,
on general considerations, a survey of the Karun route from Shuster to I spahau
and the interior of Persia desirable. Ou 4th May 1876 a memorandum was
received from Major liatoman Champain,
Secret, June 1876, No, 4R.
through Sir Andrew Clarke, on the navi­
gation of the Karun River. Major Champain showed the difficulties under
whioh trade from the south laboured, and the bad condition of Persia generally,
as means of transport and roads are oouccrned. Wheeled vehicles, he said—
u are practically unknown. Caravan routes are but tracks worn over steep and stony mountain
tidge by the feet of mules and camels for century after century. Bridges are rare, and where
most wanted are too ofton represented by the ruined piers and abutments of some clumsy
massive construction of a bygone age. Caravans are delayed in winter by snowdrifts, in
■prirg by torrents, and in summer by tho groat heat of the oun, necessitating short night
marohts,”
To him, it was, therefore, evident that, in the interests of Persia, Great
Britain, and India, steps should he taken to clear away the obstacles which
impede the free movemeut of trade from the south. He said it required but
little examination to convince the enquirer that the Karun River scheme was the
one which promised the best results in return for the smallest outlay in energy
and money. Mohamraerah and the Karun River offer such extraordinary ad­
vantages that it is a wonder to him how they can have been so long neglected.
Until recently, the main trade route of the north of Persia lay from the
shores of the Black Sea through Turkey—a lino open to British as well as
Russian merchandise. The rapidly increasing railway system of the Caucasus,
however, will soon absolutely olose this route for all practical purposes and
leave the trade solely in the hands of Russia, who, by means of differential ta­
riffs, will be in a position to exclude British merchandise altogether—a position
which she will not fail to take advantage of. From a purely commercial point
of view, therefore, Major Champain considered it most advisable that immedi­
ate steps should be taken to counteract the tendency to place the country commer­
cially at the mercy of Russia. In his opinion, one of the most effective measures
would be the establishment of free navigation on the Karun. This would not only
open the country to British enterprise as a counterpoise to that of Russia, but
would emancipate the whole of the Persian commerce in the north, as well as in
the south, from dependence on the forbearance of the Russian Custom-Houses.
Major Champain said that Mr. Mackenzie had submitted a proposal to the
Shuh for the navigation of the Karun River. His firm was prepared to com­
mence operations at once They demanded no subsidy, but simply asked leave
to work a line of steamers on the river. The proposal was referred to a Coun­
cil of'21 Princes, Ministers, and other high officials. They approved the idea
of free navigation on the Karun, in preference to granting a special concession
to an individual company. This being in accordance with Mr. Mackenzie’s
Wishes, the matter appeared to be settled. The Porsian Government, however,
then said they would claim river, navigation, and port duos, as was done in Europe.
Mr. Mackenzie replied that no such dues were claimed in Europe, except where
expenditure had boon inourred in the construction of docks, ligkt-bousc9, &c.,
and that as no outlay would be entailed in this case, no dues ought to he insist-