'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.' [‎100v] (205/386)

Persia being practically the same as the previous year. Many causes com-
bined to this result—
(a) the worst drought that had been known for a century prevailed in
Nushki, Khorasan, Seistan, Afghanistan and Baluchistan and
was followed by famine;
(J) the new Persian tariff had come into operation which led to many
important orders being cancelled;
(o) exchange fluctuations from krans 350 to 395 per 100 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
But further improvements bad been effected on the track for the general
comfort and convenience of traders during the year though not on so large
a scale as in previous years owing to the almost insurmountable difficulty
of obtaining labour in a famine-stricken country. A Government canvasser
for the Nushki-Seistan route had been appointed whose business it was
to study the conditions of the Persian market and the lines on which trade
with Persia could be most profitably extended and to make them known to the
public in India.
10 The year 1903-04 showed signs of a revival despite the severe epidemic
of cholera, not only in the Nushki District hut in the neighbouring territories
on the Afghan border, which hampered local trade until the cold weather.
The value'of the trade during the year amounted to Rs. 10,40,458, divided as
follows:—
Exports Rs. 5,64,987 and imports Rs. 4,75,471 as against a total of
Rs. 9,11,188 for 1902.03, of which exports amounted to Rs. 4,36,829 and the
imports to Rs. 4,74,359.
The above figures excluded the value of specie which was included in last
year’s figuies. The increase therefore for the year 1903-04 amounts to
Rs. 1,29,270; Rs. 1,28,158 under exports and Rs. 1,112 under imports.
There was a decrease under the head of horses and mules, the numbers of
which fell from 506 in 1901-02 and 333 in 1902-03 to 210 lor 1903-04. This
decrease was due to the draught and famine which prevailed in Khorasan and
Seistan.
There was also a large decrease in the tea trade. The weight during the
year fell to 677 as compared with 851 maunds in 1902*03 and 4,228 maunds in
1901-02. The falling off was due partly to the duties imposed under the new
tariff and partly perhaps to the market being overstocked by exports of former
years. But Mr. Greensill, the Government canvasser for the Nushki trade
route who had returned from studying the question in Seistan, took a hopeful
view of Indian trade with Persia which he considered to be susceptible of
considerable development provided traders carefully studied the requirements
of the markets and restricted their ventures to goods suitable for the country. A
great drawback to trade on the Seistan route was the uncertainty of obtaining
camel transport at Quetta and the fact of their being no fixed charges. To
meet this difficulty an agreement was entered into in February 1904, with
certain reliable camel-owners who for a monthly subsidy (lls. 250) engaged'to
supply an unlimited number of camels at fixed rates for the purposes of trade
to Seistan and Meshed, the traders requiring transport giving due notice of the
number of animals required, and whether for the single or return journey, etc.
11. The year 1904-C5 compared with the past two years showed the country
to he more prosperous in every respect. The statistics of trade, specie excluded,
which passed through the Nusiiki-Seistan trade route amounted to Rs. 16,21,617,
of which exports accounted for Rs. 9,20,446 and imports for Rs. 7,01,171 as
against a total of Rs. 10,40,458, representing export trade to the value of
Rs. 5,64987 and import Rs. 4,75,471. Comparatively speaking the
trade in 1V04-05, notwithstanding the new Persian customs tariff increased
therefore by Rs. 5,81,159. The import trade from Persia showed a marked
increase in horses, drugs, precious stones, ghee and wool, and a falling off in
hides and skins mainly.