Page 235 - Gulf Precis (1-B)_Neat

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Resident at Bussora, received in tho Month of Juno last, contains a passago sufficiently strik­
ing to justify its Insertion in this roport.
" And in as much as our late " Royal Father of happy Memory, whoso Habitation is now in
“ Paradise, formorly made known to you his fabourablo Intentions in Regard to such of your
Nation, as might enter his Dominions on a design of commerce we also think it necessary to
‘'mention, that our good will and Regard for your Nation, exceeds that of our late Royal
*' Father; and that we earnestly dosire, to see tho curious Merchandizes of Europe, brought to
" Scherauzo for sale, and wo faithfully promise to bchavo in all respects to your People, accord­
ing to former usuages and customs, and to grant and secure to them every Priviledgo and
"Indulgence, which tboy onjoy at Bussora.”
As tho Importation to England of raw silk from Persia, has long since, it is presumed,
ceased to bo an object of Attention to the Ilon'ble Company, tho framers of this Report,
will therefore confine what further they have to observe on the subject before them, to stating
tho different Articles, of tho produce and Manufactures of Great Britain, which in their opi­
nion may bo vended in Persia; and to the Expression of such sentiments, as they have formed
relative to tho prosecution of a commerce with tho Eastern and Northern Provinces of Persia,
with advantage to the Ilon’ble Company.
It is necessary however to promise, and to acquaint the British Government in India,
that Persia at present is an exhausted Kingdom, that the great Influx of Wealth which it
received by the Expedition of Nadir Shah against Delhi, has nearly reverted to India, and that
the following circumstances will more or less, always tend, to encreaso tho scarcity of specie,
in that Kingdom. Nino Tenths of the Imports from India into Persia, are at present purchased
with specie, of which not the smallest part ever returns into the country not less, than Ten-
thousand Persians annually leave tho different parts of Persia, to make Pilgrimages to Ker-
balloy and Mecca; if it is computed therefore that each of these Pilgrims at the time of his
entering tho Turkish Dominions, is furnished with tho moderate 6um of Piastres Twenty, for
the necessary Expence of his Journey, it will be found, that this single circumstance alone drains
the Kingdom annually of Two hundred thousand Piastres. The Princes of the house of Seffi,
were sinsible, how detrimental these Pilgrimages were to the Interests of Persia and succes­
sively endeavored, as muoli as possible, to lessen their repute. If at that time they were found
to be detrimental, it may be reasonably supposed that at tho present Period, they must be much
more so. The Kingdom then enjoyed the Blessings of internal Peace and a well established
Government; and tho Pilgrim often to tho advantage of the state carried with him, instead the
of spccio, such of tho Manufactures or Produce of his Country, as were in demand, in the coun­
tries through which he had to pass. The arrival in those days at Bagdad, of the great Caravan
of Persian Pilgrims,- produced in that City, for some Days, all the hurry and Business of a
fair. Tho Turkish Merchants at Bagdad were ready to purchase the raw 6ilk, the Drugs, the
Carpets, the Shauls and ever other species of Merchandize which the Pilgrims might have
brought with them, and tho different European firms established at Aleppo, Smyrna & Co of
the arrival of these articles at those places, purchased them for the different Markets of Europe. i
In the present Times from the intestine Wars which have 60 long desolated Persia as well as from
the change, which has taken place in the Commerce of the Levant, the Persian Pilgrim has no
i
other mode of defraying the Expences of his Pilgrimage, than that of bringing along with
him, a sufficient quantity of specie.
The framers of this report, in speaking of the Articles of the Manufactures and Produce of
Great Britain whioh in their opinion are suited to the demand of the Markets of Persia, flatter
themselves that such part of their sentiments thereon, as are founded on speculation, will meet
with an indulgent and lenient reception; since notwithstanding they may have arisen from cir­
cumstances and information, apparently the most undeniable and correct, many accidents, which
no human foresight can preoonccive, may in a country situated like Persia in case the British
Government in India should be decline to carry any of them into Execution, tend to a failure
of suocess.
It is presumed, in regard to promoting the demand for Woollens in Persia, that two points
are essentially necessary to be observed ; the first of which is that as the assortments for the
Gulph Markets are made up in England the strictest care be taken, that no other colours are
admitted thoroin, than thoso which may be mentioned in the Indents framed by the Servant