Page 34 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

n ADMINISTRATION REPORT.OF,TUB PERSIAN GOLF POLITICAL

weight for heavy goods, by the box or bundle for lighter bulky articles
for tho whole journey, and by the day for mules engaged by travellers
to carry their kit
Between Bushire and ShirSz the present rate for heavy goods varies
from forty-five to sixty krans for 100 Tabrcez mans (nearly 8001bs.).
In former times it used to be much lower, down, I believe, to twenty-five
krnus. For travellers hiring mules, the rates vary from two to five
krans for each mule per diem, depending a good deal upon the rate at
which they wish to travel.
Supply of mules in Persia.—As stated previously, tho mules in
Persia are bred by the uoma.d or Ecliyat tribes of the south-western
districts, and it is among them and the professional caravan muleteers
on the different trade routes that mules are alone to be found in any
appreciable quantities.
From the wandering and unsettled nature of these tribes, some of
them almost independent of all control, added to the fact that it is quite
hopeless to elicit the truth from any Persian, it has been impossible to
obtain an accurate list of the number of mules actually in the country.
The following list, however, giving the names of the tribes and of their
Chiefs with estimated numbers of families and mules in their possession,
has been compiled from the most reliable information procurable. For
this list and the trouble of collecting the necessary information, I am
indebted to Agha Mahomed Raheera, our confidential Agent in Bushire,
and one of the most trustworthy Persians I have hitherto met.
It must be understood, however, that this list is only approximate
and cannot pretend to any high degree of accuracy. The Ageut assures
me that be has tried throughout to keep the figures rather below than
above the mark.