‘Persia.’ [‎10v] (25/48)

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The Turk is and Farsis are distributed between Iliats or nomads, and
Tadjicks or settlers, &c. Of the nomads the Bakhtyaris, mustering about
375,000, and the Luris, 125,000, are the most important, these witli the Arabs
on the southern coast and the Beloochees of Kerman, Mogdiistan, &c., amount
to almost one-third of the whole population.
These nomadic tribes are agriculturists as well as shepherds—they dwell
in towns in winter, and return yearly to the same mountains in summer to
pasture their flocks. They are ruled directly by hereditary Chiefs, who are
re ponsible for the conduct of the tribes and the payment of the Government
tax. This tax apparently is 4 shahis a month for each sheep or goat, or nearly
eighteen-pence a year. Benjamin estimates this tax at 40 percent, on the value
of each animal per annum. The Tadjicks, therefore, include every one who is
not a nomad, viz., the workman, the merchant, the courtier, the schoolmaster,
the functionary the landholder, &c. They are individually responsible to the
laws of the land.
As regards the country generally, to the west and north are mountain
ranges, while the central and eastern portion is salt desert; with the exception
of the Karun navigable as far as Shuster, it has scarcely a river that can be
termed navigable, though some, as the Helmund, Zendarud, &c., extend many
miles in length, and possess a great volume of water. The chief products are
wheat, barley, cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco and opium.* Irrigation works are
necessary, and water is paid for by the hour. Its wines are celebrated, and
silk is one of its most important manufactures. The Persian Government has
no debt, as the revenue of the year always exceeds the expenditure. For
some years Persia has not been obliged to export specie to pay for her imports,
and lately she has been importing bullion in the shape of silver bars.
Commerce with Russia is by way of the Caspian, and with British India
by way of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Its imports amount to nearly 4 millions
sterling, of which nearly one-half are from British India. Protection to
British trade is secured by the treaty of 1841. The regular army numbers
about 80,500 (of whom 24,000 with the colors) with 200 field guns, the militia,
70,000 men. The revenue in cash is about £2,100,000f and about £330,000
in kind, while the expenditure is about £2,300,000. There are no railways
or roads, and it has 3,775 miles of telegraph ("Whitaker, 1887). The revenue
is gathered under ordinary and extraordinary heads. Ordinary (malliat) appar
ently includes customs, tax on land, one-fifth of the produce and taxes on
local manufactures, while extraordinary (sadir) can include anything at will.
The army is now being trained and drilled by Russian officers, as infantry,
cavalry and artillery. The material is said to be good; and although a great
improvement has been made, there is a want of certainty or solidity about
the wdiole arrangement, owing to the irregularity with which pay is issued t >
the troops. A fairly full parade may last for a few days, but gradually the
numbers dwindle, as the men in one’s and two’s have marched off to their
homes. From the ease and manner in which every Persian seems to be able to
ride, there should be no difficulty in forming regiments of first-rate horsemen,
well suited to the military requirements of the province. The army is recruited
by districts, the moollahs, merchants and workmen being exempt; service is
fixed at J2 years. The-strength of the army is nominally fixed at 50,000,
while it is actually about 30,000, with piwer to enlarge to 200,000. The
Persian if properly led is said not to be inferior to the Turk.
The servant, Nasr-ullah, on arrival at Teheran disappeared. On the 3rd day
he returned rigged out in a fine blue skirt, and said he had been to see his
friends and have a bath. It was thought advisable to engage another man,
. ‘ Khodaya,* a very rough and ready customer. He was to have an advance
of 50 krans, coat, breeches and boots, and 110 krans at Bushire, with a present
if he behaved himself, say about 230 krans, or £7 ; for this he would have to
ride about 1 500 miles, and be away from his home for 6 weeks.
* One of the principal sources of revenue is from the turquoise mines which are leased for £16, ( >00 a year,
and from the pearl fishery, which is let for £10,000 yearly.
■t The principal markets for Persian opium are Hong-Kong and London, and in 1886, 4,993 chests, worth
£374,475 were exported. The quantity of morphia varies from 11^ to 12 per cent. Opium occupies the first
place in the foreign trade of Persia. — Pioneer.