MAZENPERAN lies between the southern shore of the Caspian Sea and the mountains of Elburz, which separate it from the province of Irak. It has Ghilan on the west, and Khorassan on the east. This province forms part of the ancient Hyrcania, and has a great resemblance to Ghilan in its physical character, being mountainous, and intersected with swamps and forests of oaks. The valleys arc abundantly fertile, and produce rice of the finest qua lity. Its wheat, however, is 3, cry inferior. The sugar cane is here cultivated to a considerable extent ; and, what is somewhat surprising, it ripens four months earlier than in the West Indies ; but there is no sugar refining manufactory in the country ; and the juice of the cane is used only in the shape of a coarse syrup or thick paste. The villages are, in general, neatly built, and situated on verdant hills or in the most delightful plains, fertilized by a multitude of streams ; and the natives are regarded as the most warlike of the Persians. They maintained their independence for a considerable time with much courage and ability against all the power of Tamerlane. Among the numerous useful works which Shah Abbas the Great erected, and which remain as monuments of his power, the causeway of Mazenderan is particularly worthy of notice. It extends from Kiskar several leagues beyond Asterabad, a length of about three hundred miles. The pavement is in some parts about twenty yards broad, with ditches on each side, and occasional bridges, under which the water is conveyed to the rice fields. This great work, however, is falling fast into decay. The present sovereign has been frequently petitioned to repair it, as the other roads are almost impassable in winter ; but it has been the policy of the government to leave it in its present state, lest the king might be compelled in any emergency to retire there, where he could easily defend himself in the inaccessible fastnesses which the condition of the pro vince opposes to an enemy.
The principal towns in Mazenderan are—Balfrosh, a meanly built town, situated in a low damp valley, and about a mile and a half in circumference. It contains 25,000 inhabitants, and enjoys a prosperous trade, par ticularly in silk. Sari, a small but well fortified town, surrounded by a good wall and deep ditch. It is crowded with inhabitants, among whom are many merchants, who carry on a brisk traffic with Astracan, and the interior of Persia. Amul is agreeably situated at the foot of a moun tain, and on the banks of a river, over which is a hand some bridge of twelve arches. Ashraff is celebrated as the favourite residence of Shah Abbas, and enjoys the only good harbour on the southern side of the Caspian. A description of the palace is given by Hanway, but it is now in ruins. The climate of this province is rather un healthy ; and thc exhalations from the fens and marshes, occasioned by the summer and autumnal heats, produce agues and dropsies, which are indicated by the sallow and bloated appearance of the inhabitants. The population is estimated at from 600,000 to 700,000. The small pro vince of Asterabad is sometimes included in Mazenderan, which it resembles in climate and productions. It is the paternal estate of the present king of Persia, as chief of the Kujur tribe, who have entire possession of the pro vince.