periods antecedently to the time of Ptolemy, who treats of
Media in its latter and most extended limits, as touching
Armenia, Assyria, Parthia, Hyrcania, and parts of Susis
and Persis to the south; thus making it correspond nearly
with Asiatic Cush.1
The extensive provinces of Khorasan and Kirman form
the eastern border of Persia, and the base of the t r ia n gle .
In its present state, and including the province of Aster-
abad, the former extends 358 miles from the territory of
Herat,2 on the borders of Afghanistan,3 to those of ’Irak,4
and 355 miles from the desert of Kirman,5 northward, to
that of Khiva;6 it has, therefore, a superficies of about
138,026 square geographical miles, or 15,336 square leagues.
The northern parts of this province are mountainous.
One branch quits the great range near the southern portion
of Aster-abad, and runs eastward, by Abbas-abad and Nisha-
pur, to Mushed, making, with the former, a crescent-shaped
mountain district nearly 100 miles in extent where widest.
From the vicinity of the capital, this double chain runs
W.S.W. to Herat, but with less width than before. A little
to the southward of Mushed two branches diverge from the
northern roots towards the opposite extremity of the province.
One of these runs nearly S.W., by Turshiz,
Tubbus, and Yezd, into Fars; whilst the other runs nearly
south, and parallel to the position of Afghanistan.
The slopes and sides of the mountains towards the northern
extremity of the province contain fine table-lands, with numerous
rich valleys interspersed; but the central and southcouchant,
la Tropatene au levant, et la Chorosmithene au sud, et renfermoit
ce qu’on appelle aujourd’hui le Schirvan, l’Aderbretzjan, le KiMn, et la partie
occidentale d’Irac Ajeme.—Baundrand’s Geography, art. Media.
1 See Chap. XII.
8 Herat is included in the territory of Shdh Shuja; hut, previously to the
late siege, it acknowledged the Shdh of Persia, hy annual presents, and usually
also a tribute in money.
8 In 60° 24' E. longitude.
4 In 53° 5' E. longitude, and 33° N. latitude.
5 In 51° E. longitude, and 31° 45' N. latitude.
8 In 31° 10' N. latitude.
era parts of Khorasan are almost entirely a plateau, now
thinly peopled, and but partially cultivated.
The district of Yezd, one of the most important of these
oases, produces fruits, silk, and cotton, in abundance, with,
however, a more limited supply of grain, owing to the
deficiency of irrigation.1
The city is surrounded with gardens, beyond which there
is a sandy plain nearly inclosed by high hills, and at a short
distance from the frontiers of Kirman. It contained about
7000 families, one-third of whom are industrious Gabrs.
It is of moderate size, well peopled, and cheap,2 and celebrated
for the beauty of the women.3
Being the great caravan depot between the countries lying
east, west,-and north, and having the additional advantage
of producing carpets, felts, cotton, and superior silk manufactures,
it is a place of greater trade than any other in the
empire.4
At the distance of four farsangs from Yezd is the rich
plain of Baft, watered by a fine stream, on which are numerous
country houses; it enjoys a fine temperature.5
According to native accounts, many of the other oases are
extensive, and contain populous towns, such as Khubbus, to
the S.E. of Yezd; Tubbus, to the N .E .; Turbut, Kaff,
Gunah-abad, and other places; among these may be noticed
Bushrewgah, which is said to contain a population of 30,000
souls, and Turshiz; and the latter is described as a perfect
garden.6
Several of the plains and valleys of the mountains are very
fine, especially those along the slopes northward of Mushed.
The fertile district beyond Kalat Nadiree is 50 or 60 miles
in length by 12 or 15 in width; it is well watered, and contains
about 2000 families, who are protected by steep and
1 Captain Christie : Pottinger’s Travels, p. 421.
8 Edrisi, p. 419; Tome V., Recueil de Voyages, &c. Paris, 1836.
8 Tavemier, p. 44.
4 Captain Christie’s Visit: p. 421 of Pottinger’s Travels.
8 Jihdn-Ndmeh’.
8 Lieutenant Conolly’s Journey, Vol. I., p. 281.