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'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [247] (286/714)
The record is made up of 1 volume (351 folios). It was created in 1892. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
FROM MESHED TO TEHERAN
247
to Demavend (near Teheran), a total distance of 1,700 miles in
seventeen days, with the news of Napoleon's escape from Elba
On the other hand, when there is no purpose in haste, no rider can
be so slow as a Persian, If he is not proceeding at a headlong
gallop, he affects a dignified crawl; and in the whole of my
rides I never once met a native who was moving at more than a
toot-pace on horseback.
. As tllls 18 the first occasion upon which I have required to de
scribe chapar riding from personal experience, and as I subsequently
Cost of rode considerably over a thousand miles bv the samp
" means, I may as well here condense whatever of observa
tion or suggestion I have to make upon the subject. I have already
m Chapter II. (upon Ways and Means) supplied all necessary in
formation as to cost and procedure. The basis of calculation there
laid down will show that for four horses-self, gholam, postbov,
and baggage (for I duly purchased my own experience by taking
on this occasion, but on this only, an extra baggage animal, which
cost me many a hard gallop in pursuit as well as a proportionate
loss of time)—my journey from Meshed to Teheran cost 600 krans
or, at the then rate of exchange, about 171, exclusive of tips to
the postboys and payment for the use of quarters at night
amounting to about 21 more, and the cost of food en route,
w ich will depend in each case upon the amount of tinned meat
carried by the traveller. The journey will not in any case cost
over 201. My sole companion and attendant upon this journey
was a Perso-Afghan gholam (mounted courier or havass) of the
British Legation at Teheran, who bore the imposing name of Nadir
All Khan, and who was well posted in all the tricks of the road.
I he postal system in Persia, about the inauguration of which
shall have something to say later on, is under the superintendence
Post? 61 ' 0f 0f a Minister of :Posts ' but as tlie present tenant of that
office holds two other portfolios in addition, besides being-
President of the Council, it may be inferred that it is not regarded
as one of commanding importance. The Government allows him a
certain annual sum for the repair and equipment of every post-
house upon the Government roads, as well as an annual allowance
of barley and straw as fodder for the horses. 1 The Minister does
Quite recently there were 172 Government chapar-Manehs, and the Treasury
a owance was 20
tomans
10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
(_ol. 14s.) a year for each, as well as 10 Marvars (nearly
ons ) of barley, and the same amount of straw, for the horses.
About this item
- Content
The volume is Volume I of George Nathaniel Curzon, Persia and the Persian Question , 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1892).
The volume contains illustrations and four maps, including a map of Persia, Afghanistan and Beluchistan [Baluchistan].
The chapter headings are as follows:
- I Introductory
- II Ways and Means
- III From London to Ashkabad
- IV Transcaspia
- V From Ashkabad to Kuchan
- VI From Kuchan to Kelat-i-Nadiri
- VII Meshed
- VIII Politics and Commerce of Khorasan
- IX The Seistan Question
- X From Meshed to Teheran
- XI Teheran
- XII The Northern Provinces
- XIII The Shah - Royal Family - Ministers
- XIV The Government
- XV Institutions and Reforms
- XVI The North-West and Western Provinces
- XVII The Army
- XVIII Railways.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (351 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is divided into chapters. There is a list of contents between ff. 7-10, followed by a list of illustrations, f. 11. There is an index to this volume and Volume II between ff. 707-716 of IOR/L/PS/C43/2.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at 1 on the first folio bearing text and terminates at 349 (the large map contained in a polyester sleeve loosely inserted between the last folio and the back cover). The numbers are written in pencil, are enclosed in a circle and appear in the top right-hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. page of each folio. Foliation anomaly: ff. 151, 151A. Folio 349 needs to be folded out to be read. There is also an original printed pagination sequence. This runs from viii-xxiv (ff. 3-11) and 2-639 (ff. 12-347).
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C43/1
- Title
- 'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 1:24, 1:86, 86a:86b, 87:104, 104a:104b, 105:244, 244a:244d, 245:272, 272a:272b, 273:304, 304a:304b, 305:306, 306a:306b, 307:326, 326a:326b, 327:338, 338a:338b, 339:344, 344a:344b, 345:354, 354a:354b, 355:394, 394a:394b, 395:416, 416a:416b, 417:420, 420a:420b, 421:520, 520a:520d, 521:562, 562a:562b, 563:564, 564a:564b, 565:606, 606a:606b, 607:642, i-r:i-v, back-i
- Author
- Curzon, George Nathaniel, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
- Usage terms
- Public Domain