![‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎232v] (471/722)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0002d7/Mss Eur F112_376_0477.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎232v] (471/722)")
‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [232v] (471/722)
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
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418
Russia furnishes these. Their own manufacturers supply them with coarser
articles, as bottles, phials, and £ karabahs.
Earthenware.—I have no particular knowledge of the kinds that pay; but
as there is a good deal imported from China itself, by the way of Bukhara
and India, I have no doubt that coffee and tea cups, plates, dishes, &c.,
of showy but not very expensive British china, would answer well.
It surely could be imported cheaper than that from China.
Medicines of European composition are not much used by the native
physicians ; but a few of the patent medicines and cordials, as essence
of peppermint, cherry brandy, and other liquors under that name,—and
I daresay Ce Velno^s vegetable syrup and Dr. Solomon s balm of Eilead,
would answer extremely well.
The metals beino 1 heavy for land carriage, will always be more advant-
ageously imported by Russia; but they come from India, both by land
aSd sea. The steel of India is greatly preferred to any other. Iron is
made in several parts of Persia ; but foreign metal is much preferred. It
is to be remembered that iron is a metal comparatively but little used in
these countries.
Copper in sheets is much used, being, I believe, principally imported
from Russia, but partly from India. Tin is sent from the latter place
also.
Cochineal is an article of dyeing stuff, greatly used in spite of its high
price in Persia. Hitherto it has chiefly been sent by Russia, and has sold
as hich as 150 tumans per pud of 40 lbs. (about ‘‘ll. to 1/. 6s. 8d. a pound,
English). It was as low as 100 tumans when I was in the country. Prob
ably it might be afforded a good deal cheaper, if sent direct from the
importing countries in which case the demand would increase, as the dye
is verymuch admired.
Indigo, which comes entirely from India, is consumed to a great and
increasing amount. It comes chiefly by sea via Bushahr, but also finds its
way across the country by Kabul and Balkh to Bukhara, and from
thence, or by Herat, to Persia. Nearly 1,100 chests of 250 lbs. each were
imported via Bushahr in the year ending 31st May 1821.
Spices form a branch of considerable consequence among Indian
imports; but they are not extensively consumed in Persia, so that it will not
probably increase.
Sugar and sugarcandy form one of the most important branches
of the trade between India and Persia. Although Mazandaran yields
a coarse sugar, and there is a little, I believe, produced in Khuzistan
and the low country about the Karun and Tigris; and though, I believe, the
Russians may import a little refined sugar, the chief supply of this
great article of Persian consumption comes from India. It is a curious fact,
that a country which consumes so much of this article, and possesses so
much soil fitted for its growth, should continue to be dependent upon foreign
countries for its supply.
Black lamb and sheepskins form a chief and very important article
of trade between Persia and Bukhara. Since the commencement of the
present kiug^s reign the nation Las adopted the black lambskin cap,
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’ [232v] (471/722), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F112/376, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100107690763.0x000048> [accessed 24 March 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