b o o k Ruffians; this place was chiefly viiited by the merchants of
, Shamakee, who then fupplied the province o f Shirvan with
European commodities: near the harbour are feveral wretched
villages. -
3. Baku is efteemed the moil commodious haven in this
fea, as veffels may there ride fecurely at anchor in feven fathom
water ; but the number o f ihoals, iflands, and fand-
banks, render the entrance in fome places extremely difficult
and dangerous, particularly to the Ruffians, who are not very-
expert Tailors. Baku is a fortrefs furrounded with high
brick walls ; its inhabitants, like thofe of Derbent, are Per-
fians, Tartars, and a few Armenian merchants. The principal
articles o f exportation which fupport the trade o f this
plaCe are naphta, and the fineft rock fait, of both which there
are mines on the eaft fide o f the bay. The inhabitants cultivate
faffron and the eotton-tree, but not to any confiderable
advantage. The trade o f Baku, though more valuable than
that o f Derbent, is ftill inconfiderable, and chiefly carried on
with Shamakee, from whence it draws raw filk and filken
fluffs. A Ruffian conful is refident at this place. In 1777
Baku * belonged to Melik-Mehmed, who was tributary to
Feth Ali, khan of K uba: the latter poflefled the whole province
o f Shirvan, and was the moft powe'rful prince next, to
the khan of Ghilan, upon the coaft o f the Cafpian.
Before we quit the province of Shirvan, it may be not improper
to mention its capital, the inland town o f Shamakee,
which is only 66 miles from Baku, and fupplies that port
with raw filk and filken fluffs. It owed its former commercial
importance to the filk which is cultivated in the neighbouring
diftrift; this rich production ftill preferves the town
from ruin ; though its traffick is greatly reduced by the ex-
* G ra e iin , yoI, II I , p . 52, & c . Gulcienftacdt.
orbitanf
orbitant exactions o f the khan o f Kuba. Formerly the
Ruffians had a factory at this place ; and it was alfo crouded
with Turkiih and Greek merchants : but at prefent there
are only a few Armenian and Indian traders. The inhabit
tants manufacture filk and cotton fluffs ; but far inferior to-
thofe made at this place in the beginning o f the prefent
century. The filk o f this province is exported into the interior
part o f Perfia, Turkey, Georgia, and Ruffia. Shamakee
ftill fupplies part o f Georgia, and the inhabitants o f the
Eaftern chain o f Mount Caucafus, with European commodities,
principally by means o f the traffick with Baku, and the
contraband trade with the Armenians and Ruffians H; -
As Saffian is now no longer reforted to on account o f the
ihoals and rocks, I haften to,
4. Einzellee, which, though a wretched village, is the
moft frequented for the Perfian commerce : formerly the-
veffels entered through the channel into a bay ; but, as this
bay is choaked up, they are obliged to lye at anchor in the
road. Einzellee is fituated on the fouth weftern coaft, a-
few miles north of Reffid, capital o f the province of Ghilan :
it confifts of two parts,, Old and New Einzellee; the former-
is inhabited by the Perfians and Armenians, under the jurif-
diCfion o f the fophy ; the latter, by the Ruffian merchants,
and thofe Armenians who are fubjeCt to the emprefs : a gar-
rifon.of thirty Ruffian foldiers is there fta-tioned under the
command of the conful. It contains a Ruffian and Armenian-
church, and about 300 houfes, which are moftly built with
reed. The refufe only of the Perfian and European commodities
is expofed to iale at Einzellee the great mart being
at Reffid, where the Ruffians have erected booths, and
* Gm e lin , v o l.-I II., p . 60, & c ,
to