'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎251v] (502/540)

Ginger, Muggadooties, and Indian piece Goods , and imports from thence, coarse Chintz coarse
Cotton Cloths and a variety of other trifling Articles. The duties paid to the Government
at Shuster are very moderate.
It will now be necessary to present, Such Information as has been collected in Regard the
conveyance of Merchandize into the interior parts of the Persian Empire ; in the Performance
of which it seems best to divide the Parts, to which it is isent, into three Grand divisions,
namely, the Eastern Western and middle parts of the Empire.
To-begin therefore, with the Eastern Part of the ^Empire, which is supposed to include
the Provinces of Mekran Sigestan, and the more southern parts of the Province of Khorasane
it is necessary to premise, that the two first of these Provinces, are in such a state of Barbarisms
and so exposed, to the predatory Excursions of the Ballouches, that no Merchant, is willing to
send thither, 1 roperty to any considerable Amount, and that the very few foreign Articles
which the Powerty of their Inhabitants, permits them to purchase, can only find their way
thither by occasional conveyances from Kerman. The Southern Parts of Khorasan are
supplied, with such foreign Articles as are in demand there, from Muscat by means of the'
Indus, and the Northern parts of this Province are some times supplied, from the same place,
when Impediments occur to it's communication with Ispahan or the Northern and Eastern
Parts of Hindostan. Want of opportunity has prevented any Intelligence being obtained in
Regard to the Expence of transporting Merchandize, from Muscat to the Southern Parts of
tbe Province of Khorasan.
In speaking of the means, by which Merchandize is conveyed from the Port of Bushire,
to the middle Division of the Persian Empire, it is to be supposed that such Division,
contains the entire Provinces of Faristan Kerman, Irak, Agemi and parts of the Provinces
bordering thereon. Whenever the Road between Bushire and Sherause, is perfectly secure
scarcely a week passes with out the arrival at that place of a carravan or Cofla from Sherauze,
wbi^h returns thither after a Rest of two or three days, with , such Goods as the Merchants
at Bushire, judge proper for the Markets of Ispahan and Sherauze. In these Times, the
Goods designed for Ispahan are transported thither, after their arrival at Sherauze, in small
Cofla. at different periods. VVhen the communication between Bushire and Scherauze is
rendered unsafe, by the Khans of the districts through which the Road lies, having rebelled
aganist the Government at Scherauze, or by any other circumstances, the Merchants send such
Goods as they propose to vend at Ispahaun, part to Shuster, and part to Yezd; from thence
to be conveyed, to the place of their destination. In such an Event too, especially when
this Impediment continues for any length of Time, they keep up an Intercourse with
Scherauze, by means of Yezd; but as this is expensive, it is never practised but in cases of
necessity. The communication between Bushire and Yezd is seldom or ever interrupted, and
the communication between Shuster and Ispahaun, though always hazardous, is seldom
impracticable.
The very large Coflas, which in peaceable Times go between Bushire and Ispahaun are
managed after the following Manner. A Carravan from Ispahaun, sets out, laden with wet
and dried fruits with an Intention of disposing of them at Scherauze,; on its arrival there these
Articles are chiefly purchased by the Muleteers of Scherauze, who immediately proceed with
them to Bushire, where after disposing of their Merchandize, they find, ready for them, a
more valuable Lading with which they return to Sherauze ; on their arrival at that city, the
Carravan belonging to Ispahaun, prepares for its Departure and returns to Ispahaun, with
guch Goods, as the Merchants at Scherauze and Bushire, may judge proper for that Market.
The space of Time which all of these Jonrnies require for their Performance, seldom exceeds
fifty two Days.
The Merchandizes received at Ispahaun, by these carravans, are conveyed from thence
according to the demand they may be in, to the different Provinces bordering on the Caspian
Sea, where they are generally bartered for Raw Silk, Drugs etc., thee Production of the
Provinces, to which they are consigned.
From Bushire to Scherauze, there are two different direct Routes, the one passing through
Kaseroon, the other through Firouzabad. the merchants as well as the Chelmadars, of the
Carravans, give the Preference to the former of these Routes, as abounding less with difficult
Passes amongst the Mountains, and with greater Plenty of Forage for the Cattle of the
Carravan.