'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎18] (25/714)

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Shahrud -Bostam—Total military strength of Khorasan-Commerce
in Khorasan— Former British trade with Meshed—Later conditions-^
Apparent Russian ascendency-Persian figures-My mformataon an
Meshed -Report of the British Consulate—Values of British and Russian
imports—Anglo-Indian trade routes-Import ^
routes— Custom duties—Largest items—(1) Anglo-India (-) ' •
—(3) Russian -Exports (1) to Russia Growth of Russo- 1 ersian trade
m To In.lia- Perso- Afghan trade-Grand total-bteps to be taken bj
Great Britain-Russian covetousness of Khorasan- Contrast to Trans-
caspia-A pied d terre against India -British interests m Khorasan -
Persian loyalty— Russian prestige—Feeling towards England
CHAPTER IX
THE SEISTAN QUESTION
Eastern frontier of Persia—(1) Zulfikar to Seistan—(2) Seistan—(.5) 1 cr>o-
Beluch boundary—(4) Mekran boundary—District of Seistan- enva-
tion of the name—Its application—Present condition—Protean trans
formations —Legendary history—Early history—Later history Sir i.
Goldsmid's Commission in 1872-Partition of Seistan—Independent
opinion—Present administration European travellers Political value
of Seistan—Value to Russia—Value to Great Britain Strategical
importance—Engineering facilities—Nushki-Seistan line iuture of
Afghanistan—Military criticism—Hostile opinion—Sir H. Rawlinson
Favourable opinions of natural fertility—A link in a largei chain. . •>
CHAPTER X
FROM MESHED TO TEHERAN
Postal route between Meshed and Teheran—Speed of locomotion—Cost of
journey—Minister of Posts—Pros and cons of the cltapar —The chapar-
lihaneh—Vae hala-ltlianeh -The Persian post-horse—Its humours-
General character of road—Its lessons—Table of stations and dis
tances—Alternative line—Departure from Meshed—The piety of pil
grims—Sherifabad—Corpse-caravans Kadamgah—Plain of Nishapur
—City of Nishapur—Its history and fame -Its destructions—Tomb of
Omar el Khayam—Roads—Turquoise mines — History of working-
Financial return—Purchase of stones- Deception—Zafarani—Sebzewar
—Minaret of Khosrugird—Its history—Mihr and Mazinan—Pilgrim
"kafilahs —Others—Caravanserais—Camels by night- The poetry of con
trast—Turkoman forays—Military escort—Perils and panic of the
pilgrims—Tales of capture—Service of the Russians—Pul-i-Abrishum
—Abbasabad — Miandasht — Dahaneh-i -Zaidar — Armian— Shahrud -
Bazaars—Bostam- Deputation from the Governor—Second section of
journey—Deserted cities—Damghan—History- Dowletabad—Tumuli
—Ahuan—Semnan—Lasgird—-Road to Kishlak—The Caspian Gates—
The Sirdara Pass—Hostile considerations—The real gates Demavend
—Aiwan-i-Kaif—Teheran ......... 245
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