'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎59] (224/524)

AROUND THE SHORE LINE OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . 59
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before it ascends the Ghats to
road at Bostan.
Casween, or debouches on the Meshed
84. The Volga line, though enjoying lengthened water carriage,
has also to bear a long land journey to meet Custom houses, repeated
re-shipments, sometimes the cost of steam transit, and eventually to
land at Resht or Asterabad, and proceed as above described.
85. If trade come from Kurrachee, it must pass up either Sind or
Beloochistan to the Afghan frontier near Shawl, a distance of some
500 miles ; a road singularly rocky and mountainous if by Beloochis
tan, and involving the Bolan Pass if by Sind. From Shawl it has a
journey of 200 miles nearly to Candahar, and of 300 miles on to Furrah,
subjected en route to Afghan interference and dues. At Furrah it must
diverge either 200 miles to Herat,* or 400 or 500 miles to the Teheran
road; and in either case to traverse a wild region, where the Borderers
of Persia, Seistan, Afghanistan, and Herat meet on their conterminous
frontiers. From Herat to Meshed, 200 miles, it must travel along a
border tramped and desolated by the Saloor, Sarookh, and Tekkee
Turcomans of the Moorghab and Merve. These plunderers have
already carried into slavery the men, women, and children of hundreds
of villages along this line, and those villages still lie waste and
tenantless. From Meshed and the Neshapoor point the route is as
before noticed.
86. For trade to proceed from any point on the Gulf other than
Bushire or Bunder Abbass, would involve the opening up of a new line,
along a route more arduous, less safe, and not shorter; and the same
remark would apply to the Shuster line.
87. As to Baghdad, it seems at first glance to possess some advan
tages, in that trade could reach the trinagle sought by shortening its
land and lengthening its water transit. But merchants object, that
this route would involve sailing seagoing craft up to Busreh ; of their
running the gauntlet of the Turkish Custom Houses ; of changing to
river craft ; breaking bulk; and of eventually having to cross an
unsafe tract between Baghdad and Kermanshah ; there meeting the
Persian duties. Hence this line is not availed of, unless for the trade
of the Shat-ool-Arab, Tigris, and Kermanshah and Hamadan lines of
* The direct road to the Fort of Herat leaves the Fort of Furrah to its left and
passes by Geraneh.