| Days. | hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| By steamer to Ahwaz | 0 | 23 |
| By transshipment by (train or) mules | 0 | 4 |
| Thence to Shuster by river, say fifty miles | 0 | 12 |
| By caravan to Ispahan (allowing one day’s detention) | 13 | 0 |
| 14 | 15 | |
| The present route is from Bushire to Ispahan (while from a week’s to a fortnight’s delay at Shiraz is generally experienced in getting fresh mules) | 23 | 0 |
| Certain difference | 8 | 9 |
| Or probably (on account of delay at Shiraz) | 18 | 0 |
The land journey (the chief of the Bakhtiaris being favourable, of which there is no doubt) resolves itself to a journey over an ordinary Persian mule track, no worse than the old one from Bushire to Shiraz, while as it passes through a good grazing country, hire would be cheaper.
After some remarks in praise of Russia from Col. C. E. Stewart, Mr. Russell Shaw, having a general experience of railways, and having actually surveyed a proposed line from Baghdad to the Persian frontier, disposed of the various costly and ideal schemes of railways for Persia; and suggested the feasibility of reaching Persia from India.
The President, after a few general remarks, in which he wished well to large schemes of railway extension through Persia, in the far distant future, “thought it had been clearly demonstrated that it was possible, at a very small cost, to get a route into that part of Persia where alone Englishmen could hope successfully to compete with Russians.”
The President stated that, “It was clear that if she (Persia) would offer no obstacles, the route up the Karūn would very soon be made practicable; and he could not but think that if it were steadily pressed upon the Persian Government, the desired result would be obtained.”
He concluded with well-deserved compliments to Colonels Champain and Smith, and Mr. Mackenzie.
It is a question whether the valuable commercial interests of this country in Persia receive the attention they deserve. Why do we not try to imitate Russia in opening the marts of Persia? She has done so till the word “Russian” has come to mean “anything foreign”! Why do not we insist on the Karūn River being thrown open to British enterprise? Russia is a civilising influence, a rough one, perhaps, but still a civilising influence: and she is civilising the Turkoman.
The export of opium alone in 1881 was 924,000 lbs., which at 16s. a lb.—an ordinary price—is 739,200l.; and were Persia thrown open to English enterprise, this sum would have been sent there, not in specie, but in Manchester manufactured goods, etc.
I have good authority for stating that England is the only country admitting the produce of Persia duty free; as opium, wool, cotton (and good cotton), carpets, grain, dates, galls, gums.