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1784. Political struggle?, especially in these countries, are always unfavourable both to
Merchants aid mercantile Affair?; but both, perhaps, suffered as little as the Nature of
things would admit, during tho contest for Empire between Jaafor Khan and his opponent
Akan Mahomed Khan; sinco they mutually agreed, to permit coflas of merchandise, to pass
in safety, in the districts of the Empire of which each was or might bo in possession.
Had Providence designed to Jaafcr Khan a longer Life, had ho been fortunato enough
to have established himself in, the Government of Persia, there is but littlo doubt, but that he
would have trodden in the Footsteps of his uncle the Vakeel. At the time of his Assassination
which happened in the month of January 1789, the merchants residing in tho different cities,
subject to his authority, appeared to have considerable confidence, in the lability and Equity of
his Government; which appears to bo well attested, from the Amo int of the Imports from
India in the year 1788, which were mure considerable than any which had been made from the
Death of the Vakeol to that Period, under his Government the Manufactures of the country
would have received, and under the sanct on of his Firmanns, tho Hon’ble Company, might
once more have re*red their Flag in the intorior parts of Persia, with security and dvantage.
It has been judged necessary to close at this period, the Ace* unt of the past s-tate of the
Commerce of Persia, and in the re’at’oii of its pnsent 6tate, an opportunity will be taken, of
6pvakingof the Manufactures aud of the natural Productions of the Kingdom.
Pr«Mot state of the In entering upon this port of the report, a serious difficulty to the performing it, with
Co mm e roe of Portia.
accuracy immediately presents itself; for although it is possible, to ascertain, with some degree of
precision, the annual Imports made into Persia by way of Bushire aud Bussora, yet in regard
to those, which are n adeii.to that Kingdom from Aleppo by way of Bagdad, and from Russia
by way of Re-Ed and other plac 8, bordering on the Caspian, the best Information which it has
been possible to collect, appears to be Imperf.-ct and defective. The decree of Commerc-al
Intercourse, which subrists between the North Eastern Provinces of Persia, and Csbe.'k TarUry
is a Branch of the Perrian Commerce, still further excluded from the possibility of accurate
investigation than those aliea«iy mentioned; but as the report would appear incomplete
without touching in some degiee upon these subjects what will be hereafter < fferedthereon, is
the Account affor led by the most Intelligent Pe »ple of this Country, and as such is submitted
with all didjdence to the Inspeotion of the British Government in India.
The extinction of ihe commerce formerly carried on at the Port of Gombroon has been
already remarked, as well as the consequent rise to commercial Importance of the Port of
Bushire; so that in begard to the former, it is only necessary t-> observe, that it's present
Export* are confined to a sn all quantity of dried and wet Fiuits and Tobacco to the Port of
Muscat; from whence it imports Bice, Coffee, coaise and Bengal and Surat Goods sufficient
for the consumption uf the Town itself, and of the Inhabitants of the country within a few
Miles «»f its Neighbourhood.
The Road from Gombroon to Ispahan has been for many yeais, and continues still to be
so unsafe for carravaus, that it has fallen totally into disuse.
The Island of Ormus, is not now frequented by European Vessels. It is governed by an
Arab Shaik, and considerable quantities of Brimstone and Rock Salt, ..re annually exported
. from thence in Boat6 to Muscat.
The Port of Bushire is now the only oue, of Importance; on the Persian shore of the
Persian Gulph. Its Government partakes more of the Arabian, than the Persian form and
Nature. The Shaik or Governor, is induced by motives of self Interest, to favor and protect
in their Persons and Property as well the Resident Merchants as the Strangers that frequent
the Port, and this protection was during the Life times, of the late Shaik Nassir and Iaufer
Khan extended to such a degree, as to involve the Shaik in very serious disputes with the
Government of Schyras; from which, nothing but the unfortunate Assasination of Iaafer Khan
could have extricated him with Impunity. The duties levied at Bushire, on Importations are
very moderate, but it is impossible to state them with precision, since they are frequently
varied, according to the Commercial Importance o the Importer, and according to the peaceful
or confused state of the interior parts uf the Empire. During the Government of the la;e
Shaik Nassir, the freedom of the Market suffered some degiee of Restraint, for the Shaik
himself being engaged in Commerce considered himself entitled on the arrival of Vessels and
foreign Merchants, to a preference, and to have the refusal of their Importations. This Evil
was however in 6ome Measure alleviated, by the Shaikh uniformly inviting the prinoipal