Of the most important, as well as by far the most productive
of these, the pearl (Marvarid), the author enumerates 12
different classes according to their properties, and 15 different
sizes according to the sieves through which they are passed :
but he gives the preference to the Indian1 over those of
Kishm and Karak. Seven kinds of turquoises (Firuz) are
mentioned; of which, those of Nlshapur are most esteemed,
particularly the class called A’-bu Is-haki. The onyx (Jezi)
of three kinds ;2 the sapphire (Yakut) of six kinds, with many
subdivisions. The cornelian (Akik) of seven kinds ;3 the
garnet (Benefsheh) of three kinds;4 the magnet (Ahen-ruba)
of four kinds; diamond spar (Senbadi) ; the malachite (Deh-
neh) ; lapis lazuli5 (Lajiwerd) ; coral (Besed and Merjan) of
four kinds; jasper (Yashab) of five kinds. Animal stones,
bezoar (Paschir), two kinds;6 chrysolith (Seberdsched) three
classes;7 crystal (Bullur) of two kinds;8 amethyst (Jemest)9
of four kinds, and of several colours; ass’ stone, oil stone,
blood stone, the Jews’ stone (Ayyir al Yehud), cat’s eye (Ainol-
hurr) ;10 and, finally, emeralds (Semerrud)11 of seven different
kinds; one of these, which is found in the Hijaz, is called the
Arabian emerald (Sabdni); and another belongs to Egypt.12
Although a mountainous country favours the collection of
water, and a large supply is conveyed to the different towns
1 Serendib (Ceylon).—Mines de l ’Orient, p. 129. 8 Ibid., p. 136.
3 One being yellow (Sarde) : from this name, and not from Sardes (the
city), we are to derive, says Von Hammer, the sardonyx.
4 Five miles north of Narsis, near the Upper Euphrates, there is an abundant
supply of garnets.—Ainsworth’s Assyria, p. 262.
5 Also Ager Armeni.—Ogilby’s Asia, p. 7.
3 Ibid., p. 134. 7 Ibid., p. 131.
8 Ibid., p. 138. 9 Ibid., p. 139.
19 Ibid., p. 132. 11 Ibid., p. 130.
18 After some search made on account of Muhammed Ali, Monsieur Caillaud,
in consequence of the indication given by Von Hammer, was so fortunate as
to discover the mines of the Ptolemies near Zambdrah. In these extensive
galleries were found cords, levers, tools of various kinds, vases, lamps, &c.,
which were left in such a state as to show clearly the ancient process of
mining; and near these works were the remains of a little town, probably
once inhabited by the miners. M. Caillaud commenced working, and soon
was enabled to present to the Pdshd six pounds of emeralds.—Egypt under
Muhammed Ali, &c.
and villages of iran by means of Kanats, yet comparatively
little appears above the surface, and of this a considerable
proportion is salt, or at least brackish. The valleys of the
Oxus, the Indus, and nearly the whole of that of the
Euphrates, being at the extremities of Iran, that territory
(in addition to the Tigris and Araxes, with their tributaries)
has only the advantage of the Salyan, the Aji, Jeghetu,1 and
Sefid Rud, towards the north; the Zenderud, Indian, and
Bendimir, in the centre; the Helmand with its tributary,
and the Farr-ar-rud, more eastward. Besides these, there
are some inferior streams, which are, after a short course,
either lost by absorption, or become saline. Extensive salt
lakes and streams, impregnated with the same substance, are
by no means uncommon; amongst the former may be mentioned
the Caspian Sea, the picturesque Urumiyah,2 and Van,
Zerrah, or Durrah, in Seistan, Baktegan in Fars, and others;
the fresh-water lakes are only met with in the tracts below
Babylon, and again between the Elburz range and the shores
of the Caspian. The surface of iran may, in a general way,
be described as consisting of a wide-spreading plateau, flanked
by mountainous countries on the east and west, and bounded
to the north and south by the two mountain chains already
described, outside of which are two extensive plains, on a
much lower level. Of these, Turcomania, with the continuous
plain westward of it, between the Caspian Sea and
the Elburz mountains, form that which is on the northern
extremity; Arabian Irak and TChuzistan, with the rest of the
level tract outside the Zagros, form the plain at the southern
extremity.
Of the higher table-lands, filling up the space inside of
the great chains, only a small portion is at present cultivated,
and, from the number of ruined cities, villages, and Kanats,
it is manifest that desert tracts have increased very much
during the two last centuries. The gradual diminution of
fixed inhabitants, who might irrigate and cultivate the
1 Falling into lake Urumiyah.
8 Or Shdhi and Mardghah, Spauta of Strabo, p. 360, ed. Casaub. 1587.
3 Affghdnistdn and Azerbaijan, &c.