‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [232r] (470/722)
The record is made up of 1 volume (384 folios). It was created in 1886-1895. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
these things brought to Tiflis, where Persian merchants come to purchase
them.
Imitation shawls are very much admired, and might become a large
and lucrative branch of trade; but very great attention should be paid
to quality and pattern. Shawls in Persia are chiefly made use of for lining
or covering the long loose robes, as baranis, oemahs, &c.,—as sashes to tie
round the waist, or as turbans to wrap round the head. They seldom wear
shawls thrown round the shoulders, like the people of India, and require
consequently but few of what are called long shawls, such as are there used.
In making shawls, therefore, for the Persian market, they should be fabri
cated both in shape and ornament with reference to their use. Those which
they chiefly admire are richly flowered all over, or spotted with pines of
greater or lesser size on a rich ground, as black, blue, green, yellow,
crimson, or scarlet. A few of the striped patterns are liked; but the former
are the best.
Square shawl handkerchiefs are also required for the ladies. These should
have a handsome centre ornament, surrounded with happy devices and rich
corner ornaments, with a border to match; but the material and texture of
these shawls is of great importance. Silk and cotton form a beautiful
fabric ; but it is deficient in warmth. And if wool of sufficient fineness could
be obtained to afford that desideratum, and provided the difference in price
still continued very great, these imitations would go far to supply the place
of the Kashmir shawls. For this purpose I cannot help thinking that the
wool of Karmau, particularly of that sort called ‘ kurkh/ would answer
remarkably well.
One objection to the imitation shawl is the rough and ragged appear
ance of their wrong sides, if this could be made more to resemble the real
shawls, it would tend greatly to increase their sale, I obtained for two
English shawls, ten yards long by 43 inches broad, of a rich striped
pattern, only 100 reals a piece (0/. 13^. 4d.) ; but the real market price was
at least 20 reals more. These cost Rs. 40 each in Bombay,
Gokllace, buttons, cutlery, &c., are sold to a very considerable amount ;
and the demand is extending. It must be remembered that it is not plain
and good, but showy, even though flimsy, articles that catch the taste in
Persia. Sportsmen's knives, scissors of fancy shapes, and such like brilliant
articles from Birmingham and Sheffield, would doubtless sell, if judiciously
selected. Highly finished and expensive goods would never pay.
Firearm *.—A few guns and pistols showily got up, of fair but not expen
sive quality, might yield a good profit; but no Persian would give the first
cost for any fowling-piece of our best makers. Double-barrels, not exceed
ing 9s. or 1 (A. a piece, might answer well. Pistols should be long in the
barrel, and ornamented with silver wire and mounting.
Spying-glasses, watches, musical snuffboxes, and such toys, are very
much liked, and if showy and not dear, would probably sell. Such fancy
articles are, however, at least dangerous ; for if the king or princes or other
great men do not choose to purchase them, they become a dead loss. At
the same time a judicious occasional investment might do well.
Glassware is not in great demand in Persia : the habits of the people
do not require it. Kalian bottoms are among the only things used; and
53
About this item
- Content
This volume is Volume I of the four-volume Gazetteer of Persia (1886 edition). It was compiled for political and military reference by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, Assistant Quarter Master General, in 1871, and brought up to 31 July 1885 by the Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General’s Department in India. It was printed by the Government Central Branch Press, Simla, India in 1886.
The areas of Persia [Iran] covered are Astarabad, Shahrud-Bustan, Khurasan [Khorāsān], and Sistan. The boundaries of the areas covered by Volume I are as follows: the Afghan border from the River Helmand to Sarakhs in the east; and from there a line north-west to Askhabad, due west to the Atrak, which it follows to the Caspian Sea; then along the sea coast to Ashurada Island; then in a straight line to Shahrud; and from the latter south-east to Tabas hill, Sihkuha, and the Helmand, from where the river first meets the south-east border of Sistan.
The gazetteer includes entries on human settlements and buildings (forts, hamlets, villages, towns, provinces, and districts); communications (passes, roads, bridges, canals, and halting places); tribes and religious sects; and physical features (rivers, streams, springs, wells, fords, valleys, mountains, hills, plains, and bays). Entries include information on history, geography, buildings, population, ethnography, resources, trade, agriculture, and climate.
Information sources are provided at the end of each gazetteer entry, in the form of an author or source’s surname, italicised and bracketed.
The volume includes the following illustrations: ‘VIEW OF AK-DARBAND.’ [Mss Eur F112/376, f 12v]; ‘PLAN OF AK-KALA.’ [Mss Eur F112/376, f 14]; ‘ROUGH SKETCH OF ASTARÁBÁD, FROM AN EYE-SKETCH BY LT.-COL. BERESFORD LOVETT, R. E., 1881.’ [Mss Eur F112/376, f 24]; ‘ROUGH PLAN OF BASHRÚGAH’ [Mss Eur F112/376, f 40v]; ‘ROUGH PLAN OF BÚJNÚRD’ [Mss Eur F112/376, f 48]; and ‘BUJNURD, FROM THE S. W.’ [Mss Eur F112/376, f 49v].
It also includes the following inserted papers (folios 51 to 60): a memorandum from the Office of the Quartermaster General in India, Intelligence Branch to Lord Curzon, dated 6 December 1895, forwarding for his information ‘Corrections to Volume I of the Gazetteer of Persia’, consisting of articles on the Nishapur district of the province of Khorasan, and the Shelag river.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (384 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged as follows from the front to the rear: title page; preface; list of authorities consulted; and entries listed in alphabetical order.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 388, these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [232r] (470/722), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/376, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100107690763.0x000047> [accessed 24 February 2025]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F112/376
- Title
- ‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’
- Pages
- front, back, head, tail, spine, edge, front-i, 2r:12r, 13r:13v, 15r:23v, 25r:40r, 41r:47v, 49r, 50r:195v, 196ar:196av, 196r:357v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence