government, Kirman-shah has, from a mere village, become,
in 50 years, a considerable town. It covers tliree or four
swelling hills at the foot of the Koh-seeah range, and near
the south-western extremity of the rich valley bearing its
name. It has five gates, and numerous towers flanking a
loop-holed wall of nearly three miles in circumference, within
which there are about 10,000 houses, chiefly Shi’ah ; and
the tract of country about it is the more picturesque, as there
are numerous gardens and kiosks within the natural inclosure
formed by the surrounding range of rugged limestone
mountains.1
Northward of the high road leading through the gates
of Zagros, towards the borders of Ardelan,8 are the ruins
of Darnah; and those of Semiram,3 towards the district of
Suleimaniyah. Beyond the western confines are Zarnah
and Holwan ;4 and again, eastward of Kirman-shah, the well
known ancient remains of Tak-i-Bostan, Bisutun, and Conco-
bar. The last, now the small town of Kangawar, is in the
mountains, near the frontiers of ’Irak, and contains the ruins
of a temple of Diana.5
The rich belt of alluvial soil which encircles the Caspian
Sea is remarkable for its fertility and cultivation. This tract
extends about 300 miles in length from east to west, with a
width varying from 5 to 30 miles, between the sea on one
side and the foot of the Elburz on the other. The northern
slopes of the latter are furrowed by parallel descending
fissures; and the plain onward is, for the most part, covered
with a dense forest, in which are numerous huts, either
surrounded by rice and corn fields, or, more frequently, by
rich orchards: for the fine soil and warm temperature of this
part of Persia produce the most luxuriant fruits and vegetation.
These bounties of nature are, however, accompanied
by fevers and other diseases, which are caused by exhalations
from the ground.
1 MS. Journal of Mr. A. A. Staunton, R.A.
s P. 28, Vol. IX. Part V., of the Royal Geographical Journal.
3 Ibid., p. 29. 3 Cafah.—Ibid., p. 35.
5 MS. of Mr. A. A. Staunton’s Journey.
Gilan, or Kilan,1 has a superficies of 4673 square miles,
and forms the western part of this region; being narrower
and closer to the mountains, it is more exposed to periodical
inundations than Mázanderán. The orange-tree, sugar-cane,
and cotton plant, do not succeed; but, with these exceptions,
and a larger cultivation of silk and rice, the other products
are nearly the same as in that province. Its commerce is,
however, superior, on account of the profits derived from
its raw and manufactured silks. The sea trade is through
the port of Enzelle; that by land, with Mushed, Herat,
Ispahán, and Teherán, takes place principally along the
substantial causeway2 which secures the passage of laden
animals during the inundations.
Mázanderán, the country of the Mardi,3 has a superficies
of 8126 square miles; and, owing to its exuberant vegetation,
and the indigenous flowers clustering in wild luxuriance
round the trees, it is justly considered as the richest portion
of Persia. In this elysium of the Kájár princes, the finest
elms, cedars, cypress, and box trees abound, in the plain
along the Caspian, as well as on the slopes of the Elburz,
the higher parts of which are covered with shrubs and
brushwood. In addition to European fruits, oranges and
pomegranates, silk, cotton and sugar-cane are produced,
with rice and other grains in abundance.4 It possesses,.likewise,
the mercantile depots of Balfroosh and Amol. On the
coast is an abundant fishery of sturgeon, tunny, carp, and
salmon; and from thence is drawn the chief supply of caviar
for the Russian market. The capital is Saree, the ancient
Zadracarta.5
These two provinces, together with the others before mentioned,
represent the Media Magna of the ancients, which
1 From the people called Kileck.—Ogilby’s Asia, p. 2 6 ; and probably the
Gelte of Herodotus, lib. III., cap. cxcviii.
2 Constructed by Sháh Abbas.—Fraser’s Description of Persia, p. 70.
8 Herodotus, lib. II I., cap. xciv.
4 Major Todd’s Journey into Mázanderán.—Vol. V III. Part I., pp. 103
and 104, of the Royal Geographical Journal.
5 Fraser’s Historical and Descriptive Account of Persia, p. 73.