'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎147v] (299/312)

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A constant stream of pilgrims passes through Karmanshah, some of them
Shiahs, on their way to Kerbala and Nedjef, and others going north to the
shrine at Meshed.
The bazars are arched over with brick, like Baghdad, but the streets are
only 8' to 10' wide and very crowded.
The shops are well supplied with English goods brought from Baghdad
chiefly Manchester cottons and cloth, brass and iron work, sugar from Marseilles!
There is no special local manufacture except it be silver filagree work and
carpets ; most of the latter now come in from Sihna. Riding and pack saddles
repairs for saddlery, &c., required by the numerous caravans which pass throuo•h ,
can be obtained here.
The districts round Karmanshah, more especially to the south and in the
Pusht-i-Kuh, is a fine breeding ground for mules, and it would be an import
ant centre to collect yabu, mule and donkey transport for troops.
The donkey is a small black variety, not as a rule used in caravans goin^
long distances, but every villager has one, and they would be invaluable for
collecting supplies from the outlying districts, &c.
Mr. E. F. Law, Commercial Attache of the Embassy at Constantinople,
Persian trade. has been making a four months’ tour in Persia, and haa
collected some important observations on the position and
prospects of British trade in the country.
M ith regard to cotton goods, it is quite clear, he says, from an examination
of the bazars, that England continues easily to hold the first place. English
prints beat all competition at Ispahan and Tabriz. At the latter place Russian
prints have been introduced, but they have been fairly beaten out of the market
by the greater cheapness and the extra width of the English goods. There is
some Russian competition in other places, but in consequence of special advan
tages as regards carriage to Southern Persia, English prints completely com
mand the markets south of Ispahan. On the general subject of Russian com
petition in cotton goods, England still has the advantage, even in Northern
Persia as a whole, and with increased energy and attention to small details
the greater part of such ground as has been lost may still be recovered.” '
In woollen goods, English manufactures are at present entirely eclipsed by
Austrian competitors, but there is no reason why this should continue It
has been brought about by the fact that, in the first instance, the Austrians
ottered cheaper goods, of inferior quality, but better suited to the require
ments of the purchaser. With regard to the extension of British trade
in cotton goods, Mr. Law sug-gests that although the ordinary European com
mercial traveller would be quite out of place in Persia, occasional visits should
be made to the principal business towns, not for the sake of effecting sales, but
of procuring information. As proof of the need of this he adds that he noticed
in the bazars of Massanderan and Khorasan, a very large percentage of prints
in a style of which there was no English specimen, though English manufac
turers could certainly produce them quite as well and more cheaply than their
Russian competitors.
Karmanshah Plain.—k large portion of the fertile plain north of Karman-
shah is lettuntilled, although the surrounding districts produce quantities of
wheat and bailey.
The wheat harvest was now being gathered. Castor oil, opium, beds of
melons, cucumbers also grown on the plain.
I saw the process of extracting gum from the gum tragacanth shrub on
the hills on the march from Sihna. The upper part of the branches of the
bush is burnt, and then the stumps snapped off. After the first day a long