made in the neighbourhood of Damascus from dried cakes of roses. The environs of
T'araboliis, near Mount Lebanon, are chiefly laid out in gardens, iu which orange and
lemon trees abound. A fine stream flows at the foot of the hill behind the castle, and
discharges itself into the sea. Behind the castle is a coifee-house, visited as_ a place of
recreation to enjoy the sound of the water, the verdui-e, and the shade. (Ibid., p. 462.)
The northern portion of the ancient walls of Antioch is now filled with one extensive
wood of gardens, chiefly olive, mulberry, and fig tre e s ; and along the -winding banks of
the river are seen tall and slender poplars. (Bramsen’s Letters, &c.) The environs of
J afla arc very fertile, and are adorned with many fine gai-dcus, which produce quantities
of dates, lemons, citrons, oranges, grapes, water-melons, and vegetables. (Ibid., p. 562.)
The plain of Rama is tlic most fertile part of the Holy L a n d ; but the environs of
Jerusalem are barren. (Ibid.) The mussclim, or governor, of Smyi-na has, for his
summer residence, a house in the midst of a spacious garden ; and many acres of the
adjoining grounds, belonging to the principal Franks, ai-e laid out in the same manner,
abounding with almost every species of fruit of the finest quality. The figs in these
gardens, which arc eaten when green, and thcir grapes, so much prized in Europe, arc
not more delicious than their citrons, lemons, oranges, pomegranates, and melons.
(Hob. Alb., p. 629.) The neighbourhood of Smyrna is laid out in a variety of extensive
gardens, apparently well kept, and stocked with abundance of fruit. (Bram. Letters.)
Mactarlanc found the constant mention o fth e fig trade, at Smyrna, an annoyance ne^yly
as vexatious as the musquitocs. (Travels to Constantinople, p. 64.) The constant subject
of conversation at Smyrna is figs. (Madden’s Turkey, p. 147.)
Subsect. 2. O f thepresent State o f Gardening in Persia.
735. The gardens o f the Persians, observes Sir Jo h n Chardin, in 1686, “ consist
commonly of a grand alley or straight avenue in the centre, planted with plane (the
ziiizar, or chenar of the East), which divides the garden into two parts. There is a
basin of water in the middle, proportionate to the garden, and two other lesser ones on
the two sides. The space between them is sown with a mixture of flowers in natural
confusion, and planted with fruit trees and roses; and tliis is the whole of the plan and
execution. They know nothing of partcrtes aud cabinets of vcrdui-c, labyrinths,
tciTaces, and such other ornaments of our gai-dens. The reason of which is, that the
Fcrsians do not walk in their gardens as we d o ; but content themselves with having
the view of them, and breathing the fresh air. For this pui-pose they seat themselves
in some part of the garden as soon as they come into it, and remain there till they go
out.” According to the same author, the most eastern part of Persia (Hyrcania) is one
entire aud continued partciTC fi-om September to the end of April. “ All tlie country
is covered with flowers; and this is also the best season for fi-uits; since, in the othcr
months, they cannot support the heat and unhealthy state of tho air. Towards Media
and the northern fr-onticrs of Arabia, the fields produce of themselves tulips, anemones,
single ranunculuses of the most beautiful red, and crown imperials. In other places, as
around Ispahan, jonquils are wild, and flower all the winter. In the season of the narcissus,
seven or eight sorts spring up among lilies (Xilium candidum), lily of the vall^'.y, violets
of all colours, gillyflowers, and jasmines, all of an odour and beauty far surpassing
those of Europe. But nothing can be more beautiful than the peach trees, so completely
covered with fiowers as to obstruct the view through their branches.” Morier mentions
the garden of Azar Gerib, in Ispahan, as extending a mile in length, and being formed
on a declivity divided into twelve terraces, supported by walls, each terrace divided
into a great number of squares. This garden is devoted to the culture of the most
esteemed Persian fruits. The neighbourhood of Bushirc was formerly famous for its
207
gard en s; but Morier infonns us, “ that in the whole territory of Bushirc, at this day,
tiicrc axe only a few cotton bushes (Acacia Julibrissin) ; here and there datc-trces; now
and th c n ak o n a rtre e (a palm), with water-melons, bcringauts (gourds), and cucumbers.”
Tlicse date trees, the towers, and the presence of camel-drivers, gave tliis town, when
Morier saw it, a truly Persian appearance. (Fig. 207.)
736. “ The prevailing plan o f Persian gardens," says Sir R. K. Porter, “ is that of
long parallel walks, shaded by even rows of tall umbrageous planes, interspersed with a
variety of fi-uit trees, and every kind of flowering shnib. Canals flow down the avenues
in the same uiideviating lines, and generally tci-minatc in some lai-ge marble basins of
square or octagon shapes, containing sparkling fountains. Foi-mal as this may seem,
and, therefore, the reverse of picturesque, the effect was amazingly grand. The number
of avenues and canals formed so extended a sylvan scene, that when viewed fi-om any
point, it appeared a vast wood, with thousands of brilliant rills gliding amongst thickets.”
On these passages, G. L. Meason obsei-ves, “ that the Persians are not content with one
fountain in a canal or basin, but often have many small low jets, to keep the whole surface
of the water in agitation, and to heighten the sparkling effects through the foliage.
Would not,” he asks, “ a small canal near an European mansion, thus managed, and
sun-ounded with overlianging evergreen and other shrubs, become a most interesting
part of home sceneiy ? ” (Landscape Architecture o f Italy, p. 8 5.) According to Fraser,
Persian gardens have little vai-iety. Thoso of Mazaiidcran, when he saw them in 1829,
were fast hastening to decay. (Travels in Persia, p. 46.)
737. The palaces and gardens o f Ispahan. Most of the houses of the Persian citizens
ai-e built so as to combine pleasure with domestic seclusion : for the first pui-pose, they
have contrived to liave near them shnibberies, shade, water, flowers, and, in short, every
thing that can gi-atify the senses ; and, for the latter, they divide the house into two
distinct parts. The first of these divisions is called the diwaan, and is devoted to the
reception of guests, &c. ; while the other, which is called the liaraam, is devoted exclusively
to the use of the female part of the family. In the principal palace of the king of
Persia (built by Ahassus the F irst) the diwaan consists of several small palaces, or rather
pavilions, fitted up with numerous recesses and sofas, with one larger than the rest, containing
a noble hall for the celebration of convivial entertainments. The haraam consists
of a number of dark buildings, in the figure of a polygon ; and, to conceal tho
females it contains, effectually fi-om the public eye, its gardens are sun-ounded by a wall
thfrtcen fathoms high. The relative position of the different parts of the palace, and its
numerous gardens, will be seen in the plan ( fg . 208.).
738. The gardens o f Kerim Khan ai-e thus described by Moricr :— “ An immense
wall, of the neatest construction, encloses a square tract of land, which is laid out into
walks shaded by cypress and chenai- (Platanus), and watered by a variety of marble
canals, and small artificid cascades. Over the entrance, which is a lofty and ai-ched
passage, is built a pleasurc-house. In the centre of the garden is another of the principal
pleasure-houses. There is a basin in the middle of the principal room, where a foiintain
plays and refreshes the air, &c. The wliole soil of this garden is artificial, having been
excai'ated from the area below, and raised into a high terrace. The garden is now
falling into decay ; but tliose who saw it in the reign of Kerim IQian delight to describe
its splendour, and do not cease to give the most ravishing pictures of the beauty of all
the environs of his capital.” (Journey to Persia, 1812, p. 206. Johnson’s Journey from
India, 1817, chap. v.)
739. Trees and bushes appear to have been held in superstitious veneration in these
countries fi-om the earliest periods. Moricr, Jolinson, and Sir William Ouselcy
(Embassy, See., vol. i.), describe the Persians as often worshipping under old trees
in preference to thcir religious buildings. The chcnai-, or plane, is greatly prefeiTcd.
On these trees the devotees sacrifice thcir old clothes by hanging them to their branches,
and the tranks of favourite trees are commonly found studded with rusty nails and
tatters. (S ir William Ouscley, App., 1819.) Groves of trees arc equally revered iu
India, and are commonly found near tlic native temples and bm-ial-places of the
princes.
740. Cemeteries. There arc said to be 1001 mausoleums at Shiraz ; those of Chodsja
Hafiz and Saadi Sjeraft (both celebrated poets) arc the most beautiful. The burial-
place of the first is situated at Muselli, an estate possessed by Hafiz, who, it is remarked,
was not buried by the nation, but had the expenses of his funeral defrayed out of his
own private fortune. His cemetci*y is squai-e and spacious, shaded by poplars (a rare
tree in Persia), and having a lion cai-vcd in stone on each side of the entrance. The
wall is built of brick, and coincides in direction with the cypress trees of the sun-ounding
gai-den. The ground is strewed with tombstones, and divers sepulchral mcmoriais of
those who had llesired to be buried under the guai-dian influence of the poet. Entering
from the neighbom-ing garden, wliich was bequeathed to the cemetery, the keeper conducts
a stranger into the place of the sepulchre. This is sm-roiuided by lattice-work,
and contains three tumuli besides the grave of the poet ; one encloses the remains of a
secular prince, and tlio other two illustrious individuals, who, when living, were disciples