'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎212] (247/714)

212
PERSIA
and endeavours to push it by fiscal tactics, which are discounten
anced by the gentlemen who call themselves political economists in
England but which are a familiar feature in the com-
Customs o ' # . -i r i-i T) •
duties mercial strategy of foreign countries, and ot tlio Jvussian
Government in particular. Her own goods pay the regular fiva
per cent, on crossing the Persian borders. But in order to encourage
the export of Persian cotton, she allows it a differential preference
of ten per cent, over that imported by the Baltic or Black Seas.
By a Customs decree of February 1889. Persian goods passing into
Transcaspia pay an cid vciIotc W j duty of two and a half per cent.
But by a later decree of February 1890 such goods, if only passing
through Transcaspia in transit to Europe, are exempted from all
duty whatever, if forwarded by Ashkabad or by any other station
of the Transcaspian railway.
Of the Anglo-Indian imports from Bunder Abbas, the largest
item, excluding the China tea, is still tea; Indian green tea to
Largest tlie value of 7,140L (mostly in transit to Bokhara),
items: and Indian black tea, which is preferred in Khorasan,
Indian 0 to the value of 12,000Z. Next comes indigo, with a total
value of 10,1 701., of which more than one-half is in transit to
Russian Central Asia. 1 The import duty on this indigo affords
an illustration of the cumulative system of taxation before
mentioned ; for three per cent, is exacted at Bunder Abbas, one
per cent, at Kerman, and two and three-fourths per cent, on
arrival at Meshed. This, with the two and a half pei cent,
exacted by Russia, when it passes into Transcaspia, and the
further two and a half per cent, levied by Bokhara on the fron
tiers of that khanate, makes it a somewhat expensive luxury by
the time it reaches the Tartar capital. In calico sheetings
and shirtings, both grey and bleached, there is a marked pre
ference for British over Russian goods, and of these nearly
12,000L worth are imported via Bunder Abbas. A considerable
quantity of Kashmir shawls, of copper sheeting and tm, and
finally of drugs and spices, are the concluding items worthy ot
mention.
The Tabriz-Teheran line brings whatever cottons and chintzes
can succeed in holding their own against the cheaper Russian
' Indigo is largely used everywhere in Central Asia to dye silk and cotton
garments, to stain glass, and to give the colour to those blue and white enamellec
tiles which are so familiar a feature in secular as well as religious ornamentation.