Page 231 - Gulf Precis (1-B)_Neat

425
Tho exponce, attending the transportation from Bushiro- t> Schoruuzo, of Bales of
Merchandize to the weight of forty Maunds Tabrezo or tho Load of a Mulo, varies from i
Bushiro Rupees 22$ to Bushiro Rupcos 28$, and of Bales of Merchandize to tho Weight of
60 Maunds Tabrezo, or tho Load of a Camel varies from Bushiro Rupees 25$ to Busnire
Rupees 26$. Although no corroot Information his, or can bo obtained in respect to the
Exponco attending tho Transportation of Merchandize from Ispahaan to Tauris, Reshd or
any other Places in tho Persian Empire, yet tho framers of this report, dan assert with some
degreo of confidonco, that tho oxponco of Land carriage all over Persia is moderate and
reasonable, and that taking the Amount charges, as alove stated between Bushiro and
Sckorauzo, and supposing the distance between tho two places, to bo 200 Miles, it will afford,
no bad Datum, for the calculation of the Expence of transporting Merchandize from one
city to another, throughout the whole of the Persian Dominions.
The Western Provinces of Persia, are supplied with such Goods, ns they stand in Need
of from India, by tho Routes of Shuster and Bagdad. In tho preceding part of this report
it has been found necessary to speak of thoi commercial Intercouro subsisting between
Bussora and Shuster, and to specify the different Articles of Merchandize exported from the
former to the latter, tho greatest part of which aro sent from thence to different cities in the
Province of Louristan and the more Western Part of the Province of Irake Agemi. The Parts
oE the Persian Empire which receivo Importations from Bagdad, aro so situated in respect
to climate, as to require but very small supplies of the Manufactures of India, although
they receivo from thence considerable ones of English and French Woollens, Venice,
Ware, etc.
Caravans proceed from Bagdad to Ispahaun by the Route of Kermanehah and Hamadan
bub they are neither frequent, nor arc they ever considered as free from very imminent
Risque.
According to the most correct Information, which it has been possible to procure, the
commercial Intercourse between the Persian Provinces bordering upon the Caspian Sea,
and the city of Astrachan, is but small and it appears, that the Importations of Woollens
into Persia by that Route has of late years been but inconsiderable.
The Extension of the Persian Empire, occasions a considerable inland commerce, as the
different Provinces naturally stand in need, of the productions of each other; and since it is
not practicable exactly to specify the Nature of this commerce, it has been judged necessary
for tho information of the British Government in India, to enumerate such of the natural
Productions and Manufactures of Persia, as have come to the knowledge of the framers of
this report.
The Province of Khorasaun, is generally esteemed the richest, in its natural Productions
which consist in a variety of valuable Drugs, M ines of Iron and Copper, and Abundance of
different kinds of Fruit, whioh when dried make a considerable Branch of commerce. The
Principal Manufactures of Khorasaun is that of carpets, which for the Brightness of their
colours, and the Elegance of their Workmanship, are deservedly in high Estimation all over
the World. Through this Province is introduced into Persia the fine Rhubarb, which formerly
being conveyed to Europe by way of the Levant, falsely acquired the Name of Turkish
Rhubarb. The Province of Khorasaun as well as the adjacent parts of Usbek Tartary, and
of the Province of Mazanderan, produce great quantities of sheep, the chief advantage of
which, proceeds from the skins of their Lambs, which being dressed in a particular Manner,
become exceedingly beautiful, and are in high Estimation, both in Persia and Russia. The
Productions of the Province of Mazanderan, are but little varied, from those already described
as belong to Khorasaun. The Wealth of the Province of' Ghilan, consists in silk, Irak,
Agemi, has to boast of a variety of valuable natural Productions, as Indigo, Tobacco, &c., of
the Manufactories of steel, which are oarried on at Komm, and of 6ilks and Brocades which
are executed at Cachan. Tho Articles of the Growth of Parsiatan, which appear moat worthy
of Remark, aro cosiderable quantities of vory fine Cotton, and the Poppy of the Vale of
Kazeroon, from which, at proaent but little Opium is extrated for Foreign Exportation. This
Opium, made at Kazeroon, is esteomed by Judgos of that Drug to be superior to every other
sort produced in Asia; and whenever the Political 6tate of Affairs in Persia, shall resume a
settled Appoarance, Manufacture will in all probability be extended. The Manufactures of
|

il