'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎236v] (477/610)

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{Transport.
is largely migratory, and flour, for more than 50 men, and bar ley ?
at any season, can only be procured from the hills.
In the Gilan plain supplies are available as in Mazandaran,
but Gilan has much fewer flocks and the sheep are of poorer
quality. Wheat also must be fetched from a greater distance,
e.g., from Khamseh beyond the Kizil Uzun, as the hill belt
between the lowlands and the Kizil Uzun valley is narrower
and less productive than the wider belt of highlands which
stretch East of the Safid Rud to Mazandaran.
Animal rations throughout the Caspian provinces are in
different. No barley is grown. Rice straw is a poor substitute
for bhusa ”, and except in the towns, barley is scarce and
only procurable by fetching from the ihills.
Persian 1 2 mules and some 3 * ponies are employed for carrying
rice, charcoal, oranges, etc., from the Caspian lowlands to the
towns along all these routes. The transport available is less
than the demand and the rates of hire are di igh, varying in
1920 from 200 to 300 krans per mule according to the route-
and season. Fewer loads are available for the return journey
from the plateau and the hire varies from 50 to 100 krans per
mule.
In winter the transport works principally in the Caspian
province sections of these routes carrying rice and charcoal
from the lowlands for store in villages North of the ridges, and
in 5 summer works from them on to the towns on the plateau.
In spring and autumn “through” journeys are made.
A mule load varies from 6 200 to 250 lbs. and the daily stage-
averages about 7 5 farsakhs (20 miles).
The ‘ charvadars ’ 8 engaged in this carrying trade own 3 to
ld mules each and are natives of the villages near the road
along which they travel.
1 It is called ‘ Jau-i-Kuhi ’ to distinguish it from the rice, ‘ Shall ’ or ‘ Jau-i-
birinj given to local animals.
a The Larijan road from Tehran to Amol is the chief trade route and toetweeni
5,000 and 6,000 mules are said to work along it.
Mention of amount of transport is made in the table of routes below.
8 Ponies are largely used along the easy Firuzkuh route.
* In 1917-18 owing to the high price of grain many animals died or were sold
to other parts of Persia. The rates of hire have doubled during recent years,
u. , Except for a few weeks during June or July when the mules graze in the-
highlands and their owners are busy harvesting.
‘ Mules foreign to the country cannot carry more than 150 lbs.
The “ farsakh” is very variable, but averages 4 miles. It is longest in
Kujur where it is nearer to 6. Persians frequently “ under ” but never “ over
estimate distances.
8 In addition to the professional charvadars many villagers own one mule-
which in the autumn they take down to the lowlands loaded with wheat, barley,
or salt, and bring back rice. They, however; dislike going more than one stage
from their homes, and if required to go further will endeavour to abseond at night.