Page 46 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

34 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP TIIE PER3JA2I GULP POLITICAL

one occasion changed some of the mules on the road. Suitable redress
from Persian officials it is impossible to obtain. It would be necessary
for the officer deputed to appoint native forwarding agents at Bushire
and Mobammernh to take over charge of the mules sent down, sec
after them until shipped, ship them, provide stores of barley and straw,
&c. In good years barley and straw can be procured in the country,
but in bad years it would be advisable to scud compressed hay and
barley from Bombay or Kurrachee. A large remuneration would not
be requisite for these forwarding agents, as, unless forage is supplied
from Bombay or Kurrachce, they can generally make a little profit in
supplying barley and straw. Major Probyn succeeded in engaging
an excellent man in Bushire.
The difficulty of obtaining money to vay for the mules is one hard
of remedy. Arrangements made with large firms and sufficient notice
given to them that a certain amount of money would be required in a
certain place would seem to be the best plan, unless sufficient influence
could he exerted at Teheran to force the local Governors to supply money
at a fair rate for bills on Teheran or elsewhere. Were sufficient notice
given to any large mercantile firm (Gray, Paul and Co. for instance)
or to more than one, they could arrange to supply kraus at Shuster, Shiraz
and Ispahan at a fair rate.
Of course to purchase mule3 it would always be necessary to have
the sanction and good-will of the Persian Government. Strict orders
from the Central Government should be obtained and sent to all the
local Governments concerned, ai;d it would be well if these orders were
repeated from time to time, otherwise obstructions ate sv.ro to occur.
"With regard to the price to be paid for mules it uii-.t vary at dif­
ferent times, but it would generally be possible to obtain a good stamp
of mule, thirteen bauds and over, and girth at least fifty-six inches, at
the three places I have named, for an average price between Rupees ISO
and Rupees 200.
The price actually paid for a mule invariably exceeds to a
greater or less extent the sum of money the owner of the mule receives,
as a portion, sometimes large, always finds its way into the pockets of
third parties, some of whom are apparently quite unconnected with the
sale. This annoyance is unavoidable, and all an officer can do is to try
and allow as little as possible to be so diverted.
The cost of feed, conveyance, &c., of the mules from the place of
purchase to, say, Kurrachee would be
Per mule.
From Shuster about ... ... Bs. 65 to GO
„ Shirk „ ... ... „ 65 to 70
» Ispahan „ ... „ 72 to 78
This allows Rupees 30 for steamer and Rupees 10 for export duty,
the remainder is calculated for food and attendance. Shuster is the
cheapest place, as it is usually possible to obtain grazing for the mules
ou the road to Mohammcrah. On the last occasion no export duty was
levied at Mohammerah, and each Shuster mule's expeuses were less by
Rupees 10. ^