Page 44 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

32 ADMINISTRATION RETORT OF TUB PERSIAN OULF POLITICAL
mules purchased at Shuster were shipped, the Qovernor, Shaikh Haji
Jnhir Khan, Nusrat-ul-Mulk, would not levy any duty, saying that the
English Government was his friend.
Tho B. I. S. N. Company carried .all the mules to Kurrachce from
whatever port in the Persian Gulf at tho fixed rate of Rupees 30 per
mule.
Tho chief difficulties Major Probyn had to contend with were
insufficient information as to the best places to go to for mules, and
difficulty in procuring current coin to pay for the mules when bought.
To these I think I may add—until the appointment of Mr. Precce at
Shirdz—want of assistants.
It appears, then, that on four occasions mules were bought in Persia
for Government, namely, in 1SG7-G8, 1877, 1878, and again in
1879-80. On the first and last occasions only were officers specially
deputed to purchase. In 1877 and 1S78 the numbers required being
very small, twenty each time, the mules were obtained by contract from
a Persian dealer, and were delivered in Kurrachee.
In deducing any hints for future guidance as to the best method to
adopt for purchasing mules in any considerable numbers in Persia
should occasion occur, we must chiefly have regard to the proceedings on
the last occasion in 1879-80, as the conditions of the country have con-
sidcrably altered since 1867-G8.
By noting the difficulties Major Probyn encountered, so as to avoid
the same as much as possible in the future, and observing where he
met with success and the reverse, we may pretty clearly indicate what
would be the most advisable course to pursue on any future occasion.
I am of opinion, however, that this course might have been apparent
from the first to any one thoroughly acquainted with the country and
paying attention to the habits of the mule-owners and caravans.
It has been seen that the mules are in the possession of wandering
tribes and of muleteers, and thus are constantly on the move. The caravan
mules, never remain more than a couple of days at one place, and, although
the same muleteers sometimes go over the whole country, their usual
habit is to remain on one beaten track; thus there would be one set of
mules continually on the road between Bnshire and Shiraz, another set
between Shiraz and Ispahan, another between Ispahan and Teheran, and
in the same way upon other routes.
It is evident that moving about to obtain animals, which are also
constantly on the move, is a mistake; and that the proper plan would be
to take up a stationary position in a central place where mules are
constantly passing and repassing. This is the more requisite in a country
void of railways or decent communications like Persia, where travel­
ling from place to place involves time. Again, if speed is required,
more than one purchasing agent is required, as there are several routes
and centres of mule districts, and one agent cannot be in several places
at the 6arae time.
At first sight it would appear that Bushire would be a good placo
to fix upon to obtain mules, as caravans of mules are daily coining and