'Report on the Development of the Baluch-Persian Caravan Route and on the Nushki, Chagai and Western Sinjerani Districts, for the year 1899-1900' [‎8r] (15/64)

OX THE KUBHKI, CHAGAI AXD WESTERN SINJERANI DISTRICTS, 1899-1900.
APPENDIX II.
ON THE QUETTA-SEISTAN TRADE ROUTE.
1. A reference to the tahulated trade returns, wliich are annexed to this report, will show -
that the development of trade through Nushki during the past year has exceeded all
expectations. In submitting my annual report for the year 1898-99, I directed special
attention to the question of supervising the interests of our growing trade with Persia
through Nushki by stationing a British Officer in Seistan, and I further begged for a
special allotment to cover the cost of certain improvements to the caravan road To^ which I
attached much importance ; and, in forwarding my report, I gave it as my opinion that if the
recommendations I then offered had the advantage of favourable consideration, the result of
their adoption would become apparent when the returns for the new year came to be made up.
2. I am gratified to be able to say that the representations contained in my report were
favourably received. Major Sykes did not leave Khorassan for his head-quarters at Kirman
until the end of the year, and funds were provided to meet the cost of realigning the caravan
route throughout 198 miles of its length, of providing water at every stage, and of carrying
to a successful termination many other works intimately connected with the interests of the
route which called for early attention.
3. The summary of the year's trade, which follows, shows that the forecast I made in
my last year's report has been verified by events, and that trade through Nushki, encouraged
by the further measures taken to protect and develop it, has made an advance even more
substantial than I dared to anticipate.
4. The record for the year 1899-1900 is, as I have said, one of steady progress. The total
value of the trade which passed through Nushki during the year 1898-99 amounted to
Rs. 7,28,082-7-3, as compared to a value of Rs. 12,35,411-15-9 for the twelve months under
review, thus showing an advance in value on the previous year’s working of no less an amount
than Rs. 5,07,329-8-6, a sum which a reference to the trade returns for”the year 1897-98 will
show amounts in itself to nearly the total value of the trade which passed through Nushki
during that year. This result cannot, 1 think, but be considered highly satisfactory, for not
only does it bear eloquent witness to the steady and progressive advance made by trade
through Nushki during the year, but it also, to my mind, effectively disposes of the charges
which have been preferred against the Nushki-Seistan caravan-route. Before proceedim*-
further I should like to say that it is as well to bear in mind, when comparing the figures I
give, that the total given represents all trade which passed through Nushki during the year,
irrespective of its destination. Persia absorbs the major portion of Nushki trade, yet a certain
proportion crosses the Afghan frontier into Shorawak, Registan, and Garmsel. Nusbki
trade with Afghanistan is not thriving; indeed there is every reason to suppose that this trade
is fated shortly to fall a victim to the crushing dues imposed in accordance with His High
ness the Amir's well known ruinous fiscal policy.
5. Although the year's record has been a satisfactory one, yet it must not be supposed
that trade through Nushki has had it all its own way; on the contrary, trade has had much
to contend against. The recrudescence of plague in Sind, and the continued depreciation of
the Persian currency in the Quetta bazar are only two of several circumstances which
have contributed to retard the development of trade by the new trade route.
6. I stated in my last year's report that of the various circumstances which had combined
to make the year i898-£9 an unfavourable one for trade, none had had a more serious
effect than the prevalence of plague in Karachi. This remark applies, with equal force, to
the year under review. The timid Persian trader cannot grasp the meaning of plague restric
tions, and the use of quarantine stations is quite beyond his comprehension. ”Numerous
instances have come to my personal notice, during the year, where caravans, on reaching Seistan
have turned off to Bunder Abbas, traders preferring to face the hardships and risks of a
journey through a wild country to that port rather than submit to the restrictions and delays
which a visit to Quetta and Karachi would involve. It is of course true that Bunder Abbas
offers merchants the further attraction of more favourable exchange rates, a matter to which
1 will presently refer ; but the precautionary measures taken to check the spread of plague
from Karachi are undoubtedly primarily responsible for the preference to Bunder Abbas
many traders evince, I can suggest no remedial measure to meet this difficulty. Plague pre
cautions can only be relaxed to the danger of the Indian public. I am therefore afraid that
until the disease disappears from Sind, the precautions which Local Governments must
necessarily take to check its spread will continue to affect trade adversely.
7. To pass on to the question of exchange, a question which will, I feel certain, be found
to have a very important bearing on the future development of trade through Nushki. Before
1 left Seistan a deputation, consisting of several of the leading merchants of that country,
headed by Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Purdil Khan Sarbandi himself, waited on me. The deputation* pointed out
* The second matter the deputation brought to my notice will be found dealt with in
Appendix.
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paragraph 31 of this