'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎254v] (508/540)

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of the Hon'ble Company residing in Persia, and secondly that the present mode of sending an
Assortment of all the different kinds of Woollen, be changed for that of sending only those
best adapted to the Markets of Persia. The superstition of the Persians, is already generally
known, and it may be easily conceived how detrimental an Idea of many of the colours of
which it is composed, being unfortunate, must prove to the disposal of an Assortment o£
woollens. Many of the colours of the Assortments of Woolens, sent by the Hon'ble Com
pany to Persia, are in the opinion of the Persians so outrageously outre, that no one thinks of
wearing them, they being as little. adapted to their Taste for their upper Garments, as a
bright yellow would be to that of an Englishman. Local observation induces Mr. Jones to-
suppose that the spotted and striped cloaths generally known by the name of Orleans Cloth-
would be very vendible in Persia.
The Winter dress of a Persian Gentleman, requiries many of the manufactures of.Europe.
His upper Garment is of velvet or fine cloth, his under one of Sattin, bis cap is partly composed
of velvet and partly of cloth, his Chuckchoors, which he wears in the place of stockings are
of cloth, and if he is a man of any Rank the dress is not compleat, without the addition of
Brocade. Upper these Grounds the framefs of this report, conceive, that a proper Assortment
of Velvets, Satins, Silks and Brocades might be annually disposed of in Persia.
Notwithstanding the Patterns of Norwich and Manchester Manufactures, sent to the-
Factories at Bussora and Bushire, by the Hon'ble the President and Council at Bombay iti
the year 1788, were returned to that Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , with an opinion from both Factories, that
they would not answer the Gulph Markets, it is conceived, that for want of an opportunity of
laying them open, to the Inspection of the Merchants at Scherauze, such an opinion may here
after be found, to have been a very erroneus one in respect to Persia. From the Information
given to the framers of this report, by Mr. Jones, there were many of the Patterns, the
Qualities and Colour of which were exceedingly well adapted to the Taste of the Persians and
the only Doubt, which they entertain of their not being vendible in Persia, is the price at
which it could be afforded to Invoice them; and it is therefore further conceived, that a small
consignment of these Articles, might be made to the Factory An East India Company trading post. at Bushire.
The most sanguine opinion, is entertained in regard to the possibility of disposing of large
Quantities of hard-Ware ; and the universal Estee;n, which the Persians have, for Glass of all
sorts affords Hoom for an opinion, that this Branch of: British Manufacture, would meet with
good Encouragement in Persia.
It will probably be found upon experiment that a proper assortment of the different kinds
of Carpets, manufactured in England would meet with a favorable reception in Persia, provided
the original price of them was moderate. An idea is also entertained, that a careful Enquiry
after the different dye? made use of in the manufacturing carpets in Khorasaun, would be produc
tive of much benefit to our own. The Wilton and Axminister carpets, are for superior to the
finest of Persia, inpoin of Arrangement of Pattern, and at first and for some short Time after-
wards, in point of Colour, but the complaint is universal that in the course of a litde use the
colours loose their Brightness. On the other\and the carpets manufactured in Persia, from
the Superior Quality (it is imagined) of the Dye preserved to the very last, their original
Brilliancy of Colour.
Little Doubt can be entertained, if the British Government in India make the Commerce
to Persia an object of their Attention, but a very considerable Quantity of the different Metals
annually exported from England by the Hon'ble Company, would meet an advantageous
and ready sale in that Kingdom; and that several other Articles of Commerce, which mentioned
saparately might a .pear trivial would be demanded; since the Persians, are a People much
inclined to Luxury and Show.
The framers of this report, have not touched upon the Import Commerce of India to
Persia, because they are well convinced that the Merchants of Persia themselves, will always
carry it on to as great an Extent as it wiU bear, and because they cannot conceive that the
British Government in India, can by any act of theirs tend, to its incr ase; if any thing
will advantageously affe;t this branch of Persian Commerce, the framers of this report
conceive nothing to be more likely to do so than the Establishment of a Factory An East India Company trading post. , in the
Manner mentioned in the preceding part of this report.
In the Evt-nt o£ the British Go/eminent in India, eemiag to a determination to prove
how far it woulc' accord with the Interests of the Hon'ble Oompauy to attempt to throw