‘Gazetteer of Kermanshah.’ [‎126v] (257/504)

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Of the total amount of opium export*! from Kormaoshali to Baghdad,
90 percent, goes to Hong-Kong aed 10 per cent, finds its way to London
and Egypt.
Tobacco is cultivated in the Guran district, which is said to number
some 50 villages or settlements. Cjahwareh is the
Tobacco (tutun). chief village of the Guran district and the cent re of the
tobacco-growing district. It” is 11 farsakhs distant from the town of
Kermanshah. The total produce amounts to some 2,000 to 5,000 kharvars
of tobacco per annum, prices ranging from 0'75* to 10 krans per maund,
according to quality. The tobacco is brought to town m sacks by the
v;\Uo' e rs A lar^e quantity is exported from Kermanshah to leheran and
the districts. Packing costs 13-50 krans per case of 25 or 30 maunds.
Kermanshah tobacco merchants are Dai-Golam, Hajji Ah Bazaz, Haj^i
Mirza Hussein, Seyycd Nasrullah and the Sherakat Amteeh Omoomi. It
is certain that a large quantity of tobacco^ is exported to Turkey, evading
Persian and Turkish customs alike. This is done by the Jaits and other
tribes, when migrating frcm their summer to their winter quarters.
The Customs authorities are well aware of the fact, but, apart from the
seizure of a few loads of tobacco they are unable to prevent this abuse.
In former days a considerable quantity of tobacco (about 12,000 loads a
year) was sent to Baghdad, but since the introduction of the Kegie the
export has fallen to very little.
<f The o’um tragacanth, Katyra, finds a fairly large exportation j after the
Gmns and pinT grain harvest is garnered, the people of Kermanshah and
tragacantb, “Kat- its villages distribute themselves all over the districts
yra/’ i n search of this gum, which, when collected, they send
into the town, where it is sorted and exported. The prices realised seem to
be fairly remunerative, and from what I could see the trade is extending.^
—{Preece,} 897.)
There are four principal qualities of gum tragacanth offered for
sale in the Kermanshah market :-«-The first quality
19C3-1904. i s received from Burujird, Nehavend and Kermanshah,
caSh^or katyra 1 aga " and fetches unsorted from 28 to 32 krans per maund
Tabriz!. It is sorted into three classes, which fetch about
35 to 36, 30 to 31, and 28 to 29 krans respectively. The scond quality is
received from Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Nehavend and Burujird, and fetches
unsorted from 11 to 18 krans per maund. It is sorted into five classes,
fetching about 22, 18, 14, 12 and 8 krans per macnd respectively. The
third quality (“ Zardeh ” in Arabic) is known in Persia under the name of
“ Arrehbor ;; (cut with a saw), as the gum exudes from the branches which
have been cut with a saw. Arrehbor costs 8 to 11 krans per maund.
"When sorted, the different classes fetch 12, 9, 8 and 6 krans per maund
respectively. It is obtained from Mount Dalahu, Puskt-i-Kuh, Khor-
remabad and Burujird, The fourth quality, or stone gum, which is
known under the name of Kurreh (Kora), is obtained from Mount Daiahu,
Pusht*i~Knk, Khorremabad and Burujird. It is quoted now at from 7 to
® Tie rates during the season varied from 40 to 60 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .