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the sum requirod, and the Provincial governments through which it passod to provide the rest.
A hoavy outlay, howovor, such ns that which would bo necessary for carrying out the works
suggested in the memoranda abovo mentioned, would, under present circumstances, bo alto­
gether out of the question. Tho road from Tehran to Kasvin, whioh has lately been made
practical for carts, has oost the Pcrsiau Government nearly £30,000. Tho couutry is level all
tho way, and tho work has simply consisted in bridging over water-courses, smoothing inequa­
lities, digging tronohes on either sido of tho road, and erecting post houses 15 miles apart
from each other. It is believed that this road only cost in reality about £12,000, and that th®
bolanco wa9 misappropriated by tho officials employed in its construction. The estimated cost of
continuing tho road from Kasvin to llcsht is £00,000. Tho completion of this line has been
talked of for tho last four years, but tho question as to where tho money is to como from has
not yet bcon solved.
Ono objeot is to find tho easiest and cheapest routo for sending our merchandise from the
Persian Gulf to the Central markets of Persia, and a metalled road is, I believe, not at present
obtainablo. What wo should now look for, therefore, is a road (tho shortest if possible), whioh
can bo made with ease and at a small outlay, a fairly good caravan road, fit for tho passage of
mules, camels and mulo litters, and which is capable of being hereafter gradually converted
into a wagon road over which caravans and carts may both pass.
The Julfa-Tehran road through Tabriz some years ngo was not in bettor condition, or
so good, as that now existing between Tehran and Shiraz; the worst parts of it have,
however, from time to time, been repaired and improved, and it is now a good caravan route
over whioh oarts and fourgons frequently pass with mcrobaudise from the Russian territory
on tbe Aral to Tehran.
Tho following are the principal roads from Tehran to tho south whioh are, or might be
made, available as caravan routes from the Persian Gulf
Tehran.
Milo*.
Ispahan 70 farsakhs • •• ... 280
Shiraz 80 l> • M • •• ... 820
Bushire 40 V • • • ... 160

190 760

Tehran.
Ispahan 70 farsakhs • •• ... *80
M&limir 65 » Ml 220
Ahwaz 25 100
Mobammerah 20 a 80

170 680

Tehran.
Ispahan 70 farsakhs Ml ... 180
Behbeban 68 II • II Ml ... 270
Dillom 12 Ml 60
II Ml
150 600

Tehran.
Ispahan 70 farsakhs Ml ... ... ... 280
Malimir 65 ... ... ... 220
II m
Shuster 25 II ... ... ... ... 100
150 600

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