extended eastward to Parthia, and northward to Atropatene
and the shores of the Caspian Sea.
They were anciently occupied by a variety of tribes, as the
Busse, Parsetaceni, Arizanti, Budii,1 and Magi ;2 all of which
were denominated branches of the Arii:3 to these may be
added the Uxii, the Elymai, and the Cosssei, near the southern
extremities of the kingdom of Media.4 Towards its
central parts we have the Syro-Medians,5 and, more northward,
the Caduchii, the Matiani, the Margiani, the Geli, the
Mardi, and the Marundse.6 But, that the earliest inhabitants
belonged to the Cushite branch, may be inferred from the
name Kusdi Kabgok, or Chus of the Caucasus;7 which, as
has been remarked already, was applied to old Media, as well
as to the rest of the territory lying southward of the Caucasian
range, and extending as far as Susiana.
The capital of Media Magna was Egbatana;8 and the other
chief cities were Baptan,9 Laodicea, Apamea, Arsacia,10 and
Europus.11 Not far from the metropolis12 were the celebrated
Nissean plains, on which 50,000 mares pastured at the time
of Alexander’s visit, that is, during his march from Susa to
Ecbatana.13
Bordering the smaller extremity of ’Irak is Azerbaiján,
originally Azerbaijan,14 and now the most northerly province
1 Who, according to Ritter, were Buddists.—Erkunde, II., p. 896.
2 The Magi were an hereditary priest class, and likewise a separate tribe.
3 Herod., lib. I., cap. c i.; and lib. VII., cap. lxii.
4 Strabo, lib. XI., p. 524.
5 Ptolemy, lib. VII., cap. ii. “ Ibid.
7 St. Martin, Mémoires sur l’Arménie, Tome II., p. S il.
8 The Ecbatana of Strabo, lib. XI., p. 522, now Hamadán.
8 Bísutún, or Baghistane.
10 Supposed to be represented by the ruins at Shehri Toghán.—Major Raw-
linson’s Map, Vol. X. Part I., of the Royal Geographical Journal.
11 Rhages Ragau.—Judith i. 5 ; Tobit v. 5.
12 The rich plains of Kháwah and Alishtar are supposed to represent these
grazing grounds.—Major Rawlinson, p. 100, Part I. Vol. IX ., of the Royal
Geographical Journal; and this position along the south of ancient Media
coincides with the account given by Strabo, lib. XI., p. 525.
18 Arrian, book VII., chap. xiii., adds, that at one time there were 150,000.
14 Derived, according to Sir William Ouseley, from a celebrated fire-temple:
Azer, fire, and Baijan, a keeper.
of Persia, which has become known as the seat of the government
confided to the late prince royal, as well as from having
been the scene of the operations against Abbás Mírzá at the
close of the Russian war.
This province extends from the Kizil U'zen, or borders of
Irak,1 185 miles northward, to the Russian territory on the
Aras ;2 and from the borders of Kurdistán,3 210 miles, to
the Masóla mountains ;4 it, therefore, has a surface of about
25,285 square miles.
In addition to the Kendilán or Kurdistán mountains at
the western border, and those of Masóla on the eastern, it is
intersected by the Sehend, Kibleh, Káfilán Kóh,6 Sevilan,6
and their inferior ramifications, which are separated from
each other by deep and often rugged ravines, but occasionally
opening into extensive valley plains, or table-lands, such as
those which run into the country from ’Irak.
Although the scarcity of timber and verdure give it an
arid appearance, Azerbaijan is one of the finest provinces of
Persia; and, wherever the soil has been turned to account
by irrigation, it is very productive. Among these cultivated
portions may be mentioned the tracts round lake Urumiyah,
the plains of Morand on the north of Tabriz, those of Khóí
to the N.W., Ardebil on the east, Lylan, Miana, and others,
towards the south; all of which produce madder, with nearly
every kind of grain and fruit in abundance.
The principal rivers are the Araxes, on the border, with
its affluent, the Kara só, the Jagható, the Sosar-chai, the Ají,
and the Salyan, which fall into the salt lake of Urumiyah;
and the Kizil U'zen, with its numerous tributaries, which
intersect and water the central parts of the district; this
last river is afterwards known by the name of the Sefíd-ród
(the Amardus).7
The principal towns are Ardebil, Abbás-abád, Mehrand,
Siral, and Khó'i; the latter is a fortified place, containing
4 In about 36° 10' N. latitude. 2 In 38° 55' N. latitude.
8 In 44° 20' E. longitude. 4 In 48° 20' E. longitude.
5 Or Kaplán Kóh (Panther Mount). 6 Rising to 12,000 feet.
7 Major Rawlinson.—Vol. X. Part I , p. 64, of the Royal Geographical
Journal.