the Duhistans of Fars, Moghistan, Mukran, and the central
deserts. The alluvial soil around the Khprs and lakes of
Khuzistan, Babylonia, and the lower tract at the southern
extremity of the Caspian Sea, partake of the humid character.
In these districts lengthened inundations are succeeded by
damp fogs ; and sickness prevails in consequence, until a
powerful sun has perfected that luxuriant vegetation for
which they, and particularly those of Ghilan and Mazanderan,
are remarkable. The great plateau, extending from the
southern side of Azerbaijan through the finest portions of
’Irak, Fars, and Khorasan, enjoys the third, or temperate
climate. For though the heat of the sun, when reflected from
a soil destitute of verdure and timber, is considerable, this is
diminished by the breezes which from the mountains occasionally
pass over the plains ; so that the evenings are agreeable
and the nights serene. This tract includes the most
elevated portions of Affghanistan,1 the Elburz, Taurus,
Zagros, and Bakhtiyari mountains, with nearly the whole
of Kurdistan. In these regions a low temperature prevails
in summer; and the snow, which caps the mountains at this
season, remains for months on the lower grounds, with a
degree of cold almost equal to that of a high northern latitude.
The vegetation naturally varies with the climate. In the
warm and humid districts are the forest and fruit trees of the
tropics, such as the cedar, cypress, olive, locust, date, orange,
lemon, fig, plantain, pomegranate, pistachio, &c.; as well as
the sugar-cane, cochineal, indigo, cotton, and assafcetida
plants; also the wild rose, poppy, gigantic anemone, and
other flowers.
In the temperate and cold climates are found nearly all
the European trees, shrubs, and vegetables.2 Besides tamarisks,
bebul, gum ammoniac, the benak, or spice-plant, wild
liquorice, &c.; and likewise a variety of pumpkins, melons,
gourds, cucumbers, &c.
1 Such as the Kohistan range, lying north of the Kdbul valley, and N.E.
of Baluchistan ; likewise the' Kojeh’ Amrdm, the Soleimdn, and other ranges
bending towards the south.
2 The potato has been introduced lately by the British under Sir John
Campbell, K.C.H.
Rice, sesame, with Indian corn and fruits, are cultivated,
in addition to European grains ; and there are two harvests
in the year: the earlier grains ripen in the beginning of
summer ; but there is a lighter harvest in the autumn;1 the
abundance in each case depending upon the success of the
irrigation. This necessary operation is accomplished by
means of Kanats, from which the water is skilfully conveyed
in small channels to every part of the fields.
The lion, tiger, leopard, hunting tiger, hyena, jackall, tiger-
cat, lynx, gour-khur, or wild ass, wild sheep (argali), mountain
goat (pauzen), wild dog, porcupine, jerboa, ferret, and
mangoust, are found, in addition to the bear and the ordinary
animals of Europe.
Among the domestic animals the horse holds the principal
place, and there are four distinct kinds in Iran. First, the
original Turkoman breed, a large, powerful, enduring animal;
second, the yauboo, or common carrying hack, which is
stouter and rather larger than our- galloway. Then the
smaller Arabian breed (first introduced by Nadir Shah) ; and,
lastly, a fourth, between this animal and the Turkoman horse,
the bid-pai (wind-footed), which, being the most prized by
the Persians, is almost always among the horses of a great
man’s retinue. It is not the custom of the country to crop
or mutilate this noble creature ; but the tails, manes, bellies,
and legs, particularly of their white and dapple horses, are
frequently dyed; and the favourite colours are orange, red,
and yellow. With the exception of that derived from the
Arabian breed, the ass is, in these countries, an inferior
animal; but there is an unusual proportion of mules, which,
though small, are very much used for caravans. This surprising
animal seldom goes so few as 30 miles in a day, though
carrying a load of about three cwt., and passing over such
Kuttals, or passes, as would appal even a Spanish muleteer.
Next in estimation, and first in importance where plains
and deserts are to be traversed with merchandise, is the
' Among the products of this season are fenugreek (schembebile), and
another kind of grass, called gontscheh, which grows to a great height.—
Ogilby’s Asia, p. 43.
VOL. I. G