Page 511 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911_Neat

POLITICAL RESIDENCY TOR 1010. 17
Owing to tho constant state of unrest existing in Shiraz and along the
British Commorco and thu Dusliiro-Sliiraz Bushire-Shiraz routes in the spring,
Road. summer, and autumn, and the frequent
caravan robberies occurring thereon, the market for British goods between
Bushire and Ispahan continued to be very poor, while the frequent congestion
of merchandise in transit at intermediate points, owing to the dangers of the
road, further spoilt prices. Muleteers moreover were heavily taxed by the
road-side Khans, and the price of transport at the beginning of the year
reached the record figure of 310 krans per 775 lbs. to Shiraz only, though it
fell to 200 krans in June, and stood at 150 krans at the end of the
year. Mules also were comparatively scarce. The caravan route was arbi­
trarily changed several times during the year. In January and in February
the Sowlet-ud-Dowleh, Ilkhani of the Kashgais, having undertaken to certain
merchants in Shiraz to hold himself responsible for the security of any cara­
van route passing through his tribal territory, altered the route to be used
by muleteers three times within a few weeks, to tracks via the Tang-i-Xalimeh,
then via Husseinabad and Taug-i-Ram respectively, and finally fixed on the
Jirreh-Sar-Mashhad-Daliki road. The Firuzabad route was also used a little.
The frequency of robberies in the autumn in the neighbourhood of Shiraz
gave rise to the British note of October 14th.
After receipt of this note arrangements were come to by the Central
Government with the Sowlet-ud-Dowleh by which the latter was put in charge
of the Kazerun (Telegraph or Shahi) route which was to be declared open to
traffic and its safety guaranteed by the Kashgai Chief. By the time, however,
that this arrangement was announced, the passes were blocked with snow and
it has not therefore been possible to ascertain how far the Sowlet would have
been able to give effect to his undertaking.
About £20,000 worth of recent British commercial claims remain un-
satisfied.
Owing to this conglomeration of unfavourable conditions, about £300,000
of trade left the Bushire-Shiraz-Ispahan route, and was diverted to the
Lynch Road via Aliwaz, but the congestion which resulted on that route
caused merchants even to forward goods to Ispahan via Baghdad! The
increase of trade, noticeable in Mohammerah and Ahwaz statistics, to a cor­
responding extent, has resulted.
The credit of small traders remained very shaky throughout the year and
several bankruptcies occurred.
A rainfall of 15 inches, and the subsequent fine crop produced on the
coast-districts were estimated to provide a surplus of 16,000 tons, and led to
a welcome revival in export trade in the autumn of 1911, and about 1,500 tons
were exported. Still heavier exports are in prospect this year and this may
result in a revival of business.
British refined sugar has made excellent headway in the Gulf generally
since its introduction in 1909.
Russian Interests.—Two steamers of the Odessa Line called at Bushire
twice each during 1910. The total im­
Foreign Interests.
port was 358 packages and one steamer
only exported cargo, namely, 17 packages tobacco from Ispahan. The imports,
save for occasional packages of cotton and dried lemons, consisted almost
entirely of China and glassware of Russian manufacture, mainly samples.
The insecurity of the roads between Ispahan and Bushire during the
earlier part of the year compelled the Company to send the Persian “ tam-
baku,” of which they have the land and sea carrying contract, to Ahwaz
instead of to Bushire for shipment.
But so little business was done locally by the Company that, in the begin­
ning of the year, the Russian Agent was transferred to Port Said on Consular
Service and a Persian gentleman left in charge, who also acts as Dragoman
to the French Consul- In September a new agent was appointed, this time
a well-known Maskat arras-dealer named Wram, apparently of Levantine
extraction, wno, however, vanished again within a month, the Acting Russian