'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎99v] (203/386)

passing alon" the Perso-Baluch trade route, the value exceeding tliat of the
former year'’by more than 0 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. . The following figures are of
interest:—
Year.
1897- 93
1898- 99
1899- 00
Maunduge. Value.-
Rs.
20,797 5,89,929
23,121 7,28,032
71,921 12,85,411
It wdll thus he seen that whilst the total value of the trade through Nushki
had not quite doubled during the year 1809 00, the weight of goods exported
and imported more than trebled. The principal articles of export were cotton
<. 0 ods and indigo ; of imports from Persia, wool, ghee, and manufactured silk ;
from Afghanistan, grain, ghee, and wool. Trade with the latter country showed
considerable increase in spite of the difficulty aud danger of evading Ilis High-
ness the Amir’s protective posts.
5 . The progressive increase in the value of trade passing along the route was
satisfactorily maintained during 1900-01,
Progressive increase in 1900 01. the figures (Ks. 15,34,452) showing an
increase of close on three lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees over the returns of the preceding 12 months
and double the value of the trade of two years previous. During the past year
much had been done to ameliorate the conditions under which trade laboured.
One of the most important concessions granted by the Government of India
was that by which money could be remitted to either Seistan or Birjand or
received from those places, through the medium of a Consular Treasury which
had been opened in Seistan and placed under the charge of the British Vice-
Consul there. The bi-weekly postal service from Quetta to Seistan was acce
lerated and the whole distance, 5G1 miles, was accomplished in 15 days; an
efficient postal line from Seistan to Meshed in connection with the Quetta post
was established, a Geological Surveyor was deputed to examine the mineral
resources of the Nushki district and the concession of a rebate of J of the actual
railway freight granted by the North-Western Bail way on all goods from and to
Seistan by the Nushki route with effect from 1st April 1901 was greatly appre
ciated by traders. Similar rebates were also granted by the Oudh and Bohilkhand
and East Indian Railways, and this fact with full details of the trade route and
hints to traders was published in a vernacular circular which wa& extensively dis
tributed to the public through the Collectors of Customs at Bombay and Karachi.
The circular mentioned the commodities for which there was a demand in the
markets of Seistan and Meshed; stated that the route to the Persian frontier was
quiet and under British administration; that levies protected it; that wells had
been dug at convenient intervals and no difficulty existed in regard to supplies
and water, that tfiazas and bunia's shops had been established along the route
and that at Quetta a special officer bad been appointed to advise and help traders
in every w r ay. The rates of camel hire from Quetta to Seistan, Birjand and
Meshed were quoted and the public were informed of arrangements that had been
made for a large supply of camels at Quetta to meet the demands of the following
trading season. Efforts were also made to open up the direct Kerman-Quetta
caravan route by financial aid given to a reliable Kerman trader and the Gov
ernment of India further aided pioneers of trade in Seistan by substantial
loans.
6 . By the end of 1901, considerable improvements had been carried out on
the trade route by means of the special allotment of Its. 93,000 made by Gov
ernment as above shown resulting in the convenience and comfort of traders. A
caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). was provided at Quetta for Seistan traders ; a kut'iha road, 16 feet
broad and 404 miles long, had been carried from a point 15 miles east of Nushki
to llurmak, the first stage beyond Bobat, 3 large and 12 small chopper
khanas had been erected at various stages along the road with accommodation
for servants, etc., two combined levy posts, with officers’ quarters, levy accom
modation, shops, stabling, etc., a large District Officer’s bungalow at Nushki,
six caravanserais, five fortified thanas and eleven chowkis were scattered along