The mineralogy of this country is very unimportant, though its numerous mountains probably abound in un explored treasures. In Aderbijan are mines of iron and copper, and also a mine of silver ; but the finest silver mine is in Bokhara. These mines, however, from the want of proper artists and miners, are not wrought with much profit ; and some of them have been abandoned, as the ex penses have been found to exceed the produce. Sulphur and nitre are found in the mountain of Demawend ; and abundance of rock-salt in the province of Kerman. The only gems in Persia are the Turquoise, of which the best are obtained from a mine near Nishapore in Khorassan. Medical springs of various descriptions arise among the mountains ; but they are entirely neglected by the inhabi tants. Not far from Maragha, on the banks of a stream which passes near the deserted village of Chai-Bagh, are several which issue from the ground with different degrees of force. The two most remarkable are close to each other, the one cold and the other tepid. Their waters are a strong chalybeate, and of a most nauseous taste. At no great distance, another spring, of nearly the same nature, issues from the earth in bubbles, and falls into a basin of about fifteen feet in diameter. It emits a considerable volume of water ; but as soon as it leaves the basin, and spreads over the ground, forming numerous ponds or plashes, it concretes and petrifies, producing that beautiful transparent stone, commonly called Tabreez marble, which is so remarkable in most of the burial places of Persia, and which forms a chief ornament in all the buildings of note throughout the country. The following account of this natural curiosity is given by Mr. Morier: " On approach ing the spot, the ground has a hollow sound, with a par ticularly dreary and calcined appearance, and when upon it a strong mineral smell arises from the ponds. The pro cess of petrifaction is to be traced from its first beginning to its termination. In one part, the water is clear ; in a second, it appears thicker and stagnant ; in a third, quite black ; and in the last stage, is white like hoar frost. In deed, a petrified pond looks like frozen water ; and before the operation is quite finished, a stone slightly thrown upon it breaks the outer coating, and causes the black water un derneath to exude. Where the operation is complete, a stone makes no impression, and a man may walk upon it without wetting his shoes. Whenever the petrifaction has been hewn into, the curious progress of the concretion is clearly seen, and shows itself like sheets of rough paper placed one over the other in accumulated layers. Such is the constant tendency of this water to become stone, that, where it exudes from the ground in bubbles, the petrifac tion assumes a globular shape, as if the bubbles of a spring, by a stroke of magic, had been arrested in their play, and metamorphosed into marble. These stony bubbles, which form the most curious specimens of this most extraordi nary quarry, frequently contain with them portions of the earth through which the water has oozed." The substance thus produced is brittle, transparent, and sometimes most richly streaked with green, red, and copper-coloured veins. It admits of being cut into im mense slabs, and takes a good polish. So much is this stone looked upon as an article of luxury, that none but the king, hi's sons, and persons privileged by special fir man, are permitted to excavate ; and such is the ascen dency of pride over avarice, that the scheme of farming it to the highest bidder does not seem to have ever come within the calculations of its present possessors." Another natural curiosity in this country is a mineral called .Naphtha. Of this substance there are two kinds, the white and black. There are several fountains of the latter in Irak Arabi ; but the most productive are those near Kirkook. It is procured by digging a small pit, from ten to twelve feet deep, which fills of itself, and is employ ed by the natives as a substitute for pitch ; and is used also in lamps instead of oil. The white naphtha is sup posed by some to be an entirely different substance. It is of a much thicker consistence, and greatly resembles tallow, and both affords a better light and emits a less dis agreeable smell than the other. Two fountains of this kind arise near Doulakee, in the province of Fars. The oil floats like a crust on the surface of the water, and is collected by the peasantry, who daub their camels all over with it in the spring, which preserves their coats, and prevents a disease in the skin. The most remarkable, however, are those found in the neighbourhood of Baku, on the western shore of the Caspian. See BAKu.
Persia possesses a variety of soil, from the sandy and barren tracts of the south to the rich and clayey plains on the Caspian; but scarcely a twentieth part of the land is under cultivation. In the central regions, and on the Per sian Gulf, the soil is sandy or of a hard clay, which, with out irrigation, is totally unproductive; yet wherever water can be obtained, the vegetation is most luxuriant. From this circumstance, the industry of the farmer is chiefly directed to the watering of his land ; and canals for this purpose are very common in some of the provinces. As
tonishing efforts, indeed, have been made to overcome this natural defect of the country ; but, in the frequent civil wars by which Persia has been torn, these canals have often been destroyed in order to cut off a supply of water from an enemy ; and thus the labours of a century anni hilated in a day. Indeed, the destruction of a few water courses, made at great expense and labour, will change, in one season, a verdant valley into a barren waste. Agri culture, however, is still in its rudest state, yet abundant crops are obtained by merely sprinkling the seed upon the ground, and then scratching it with a wretched plough drawn by one ox. In the northern provinces the soil is sufficiently rich and fertile, consisting, in some places, of a fine brown mould, and cultivation is more general. Wheat is the common produce, but rice is the favourite food of the Persians ; and this is cultivated with extreme care, especially in the province of Mazenderan. It is first sown like other grain, and after three months is trans planted root by root into well watered fields, which gives it that perfection which it possesses in no other part of the world. Barley and millet are also cultivated, and a few oats. A considerable bar to agriculture, however, is found in the unsettled nature of the government, which affords no protection to private property. The method also of apportioning the land tax, and the rents of the crown lands being collected according to the produce, must discou rage the expenditure of capital and labour in improve ments. From these causes many fertile districts are aban doned by the farmers, and consigned as pasture grounds to wandering tribes, who lead their flocks over immense tracts which were once covered with grain.
The gardens of Persia are both beautiful and produc tive. They are cultivated with great care ;. and few coun tries can surpass it in the variety and flavour of its fruits. Apples, pears, cherries, figs, pomegranates, almonds, peaches, apricots, walnuts, oranges, and lemons, are indi genous, and are produced in great abundance. The most succulent melons are raised in Khorassan ; and are some times so large that two or three are a full load for a man. The quinces of Ispahan arc considered the finest in the east ; and the wine of Shiraz is so delicious that it is re served for the use of the court. This country also abounds in hemp, tobacco, sesamum, rhubarb, manna, saffron, cot ton, turpentine, various gums, and gall nuts. The silk worm is extensively cultivated, and its annual produce exceeds four millions of pounds. About a twentieth part of this quantity is used in the country, and the rest is sold in India, Turkey, and Russia The horses of Persia are of different breeds, but all of them excellent. The Arabian is still preserved pure on the shores of the Gulf; but a mixed race prevails in the interior, which, though neither so beautiful nor so fleet, are both larger and more powerful. The Persian soldier, however, prefers the Turkoman breed, which attain great size and strength. This race possesses extraordinary powers of enduring fatigue, and is capable of performing the most surprising journeys. They have been known to travel nine hundred miles in eleven successive days ; and we are told, that upon one of these animals, Ku•reem Khan rode three hundred and thirty-two miles in fifty two hours. Camels are used chiefly in those parts of the country where the soil is arid and sandy ; and are preferred, as beasts of burden, to all other animals. Those in Khorassan are not inferior to the camels of Arabia. Mules, however, are in more general use, and are next in estimation to the horse, Their breed is also an object of particular care. They are small, well proportioned, and very hardy, but require to be well fed. When we consider that there are no navi gable rivers in this country, and that the roads are so bad as to prevent the use of wheeled carriages, we need not wonder at the extreme attention which is bestowed upon these animals, which are alike essential to promote the intercourse of peace, and give success to the operations of war. Cows and oxen are principally kept for the pur poses of agriculture and the supply of the dairy. Beef is not a favourite food, and is used only by the lower classes. Numerous flocks of sheep and goats cover the plains, and constitute the wealth of the wandering tribes. The Per sian sheep carries thirty pounds weight of fat upon his tail, which is flat and widest at the extremity ; but no attention is paid to the improvement of the breed. The more deso late parts of the country are haunted by lions, bears, tigers, wolves, hyaenas, jackals, and wild boars. The antelope, the hare, the zebra, the fox, the argali, and deer of various kinds, afford ample amusement to the sportsman. The tame and wild fowl are much the same as those in Europe.
Western Persia, or the dominions of the present reign ing sovereign, comprehends the provinces of FARS, IRAK, part of KURDISTAN, ADERBIJAN, LARISTAN, KUZ1STAN, GHILAN, MAZENDERAN, the western parts 01 KHORASSAN, comprehending the cities of MEsnED, NISHAPORE) and