Page 482 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

FBR8IAN gulp administration report
Bakhtiari border and Ispahan. Owing to Ibo latter’s depredations many
thousands of packages of upward cargo were held up at Qahwarukli and \^0l*
only rolcascd in October under escort furnished by Sir Percy Sykes fro^
Ispahan. It was not till November that the Itussians were able to drive out
these brigands and break up their following.
On the 30th June, the Imperial Bank of Porsia cancelled without notice
their longstanding arrangements for fiuanciDg the road transport, and stated
its inability to buy exchange on London or Bombay. The Bank admitted
it was in an overbought position owing to the hoavy demands of the military
authorities for local purchase.
Rates have been abnormally high. In March krans 16 a maund, which
fell to 9J in April and hardened again
Tr»Dfpurtr»tc« . Abvax to Itpohsu.
to krans 20 in June, and after a fluct.
unlion to kranB 12 in July, it rose to krans 22, at which figure it remained
for the rest of the year.' The average upward rate was krans 15'36 as
compared to krans 7*87 for 1915 and krans 7- for 1914. What with the low
exchange value of sterling and the higli transport rates, ten shillings a ton a
mile WQ8 the rate in force on the road for the greater part of the year.
The conditions on the road itself are as had as ever. The road surface is had
and. little repairs have been carried out.
Lynch rood.
Caravanseraies are woefully insufficient;
exorbitant rates for supplies of all kinds are in force. The Khans have
recently increased the tolls from krans 5 to 8 per mule The supply of
transport animals is sufficient, (1,750 tons of cargo were carried forward from
.1916-1917).
The Moin’s steamer is the only oue left which is available for transport
services. British firms, however, prefer
ISivcr trimport.
to make use of sailiug craft with all the
inherent disadvantages of pilfering, slowness of transit and liability of goods to
damage.
The amount of cargo carried during the year is estimated at—•
Tout.
Mohammerah-A hwaz 10,Ol 0
Ahwaz-Mohammeruh 2,000
Before the outbreak of war the Russians were challenging our trade in
the Ispahan market, but since then, with
Fold traffic.
the complete cessation of imports from
the north, Ispahan has had to look almost entirely to the Gulf for its
supplies. This factor, taken in combination with the disturbances in Fars and
the closure of all trade routes in that area, has resulted in a record year for the
Bakhtiari road.
It is estimated that about 7,000 tons of goods were forwarded during
1916 from Akwas to Ispahan.
Messrs. Lyncli’s figures are—
mo . . 26,397 cwta. (previous record.)
19)4. . • • 17,080 „
1916 . . . 8,788 „
'1916 . • • 29,525 „ (record.)
Another change brought about by the war is the closing of the Black Sfi*
route for Indian tea. Before the autumn of the year 1914, no tea *a8
forwarded to Tehran over the Bakhtiari road. Since then the followiflo
quantities were imported tia Ah was:—
Cwti.
1914 269
1916 2,890
1916 3,198
Another result of the war is the use of the Bakhtiari road for the export
merchandise from 8ultanabad and Hamadan.