TURSHEEZ, and the western division of KERMAN, includ ing the capital of that province. As an account of some of these provinces has already appeared in this work, a re ference will be sufficient ; and our attention will be con fined to those which have not yet been described. FARS, or FARSISTAN. On the north of Fars, is IRAK, which is sup posed to comprehend the greater part of ancient Media, and occupies the central plateau of Persia. It is bounded on the east by Khorassan, and the Great Salt Desert ; by Aderbijan, Ghilan, and Mazenderan, on the north ; on the west by Curdistan ; and by Fars and Kuzistan on the south. This province is almost entirely covered with mountains, stretching from west to east, which are barren, and devoid of timber ; and the valleys, which are of an indefinite length, and seldom exceed ten or fifteen miles in breadth, though capable of yielding abundant crops, are allowed to lie uncultivated, except in the vicinity of the towns and villages. The country around Ispahan has of late been fast advancing towards prosperity, under the management of the Amecn-a-Doulah, or second minister of the king. The small district of Linjan, in particular, extending about seventy miles in length, and forty in breadth, is covered with picturesque and flourishing villages, which are sur rounded with gardens and pigeon-houses. It is irrigated by canals cut from the river Zynderood, and its produc tions are equal to those in the most fertile spots of Persia. This province contains many celebrated cities, among which are Ispahan, Ye zd, Kashan, Koom, Teheran, Casbin, Zinjan, Hamadan, Kermanshah, and Khonsar. The chief of these is Ispahan, which continued for several centuries to be the capital of the empire ; but of late the royal resi dence has been transferred to Teheran. See ISPA HAN.
The city of Yezd is situated in the midst of a barren tract, where there is a great scarcity of wood and water ; but, in consequence of its being the grand mart between Hindos%an, Bokhara, and Persia, it is very populous, and a place of considerable trade. It contains 20,000 houses besides those of the Guebres, or worshippers of fire, which are estimated at 4000 more, and is celebrated for its manu factures of silk stuffs, which are superior to any in Persia. Proceeding northwards about 63 miles from lspahan, lies the beautiful valley of Natunz, about eight miles in length, and surrounded with rugged and lofty mountains, from which flow innumerable streams. It is lamed for the sa lubrity of its climate, and presents to the view a continued garden of fruit trees, among which the houses of the in habitants are interspersed and concealed. Near Kashan,
the king has a beautiful hunting scat and garden at the foot of the mountains ; but the road from this to Koom skirts the Great Salt Desert through a level country, de populated by the devastations of the Turkomans.
Passing to the north-west, the district of Sava, extend ing nearly eighty miles, is laid out in pasture lands, and was celebrated by the ancients for an excellent breed of horses.
The route from Koom to Teheran passes over a plain, strongly impregnated with nitre and salt, and through a salt marsh, which, in some places, is about thirty-five miles in breadth, and runs from east to west about 150. On ap proaching the capital, however, the country appears fertile and productive, and the surrounding scenery is particu larly interesting. The lofty Demawend, with his snowy summit, overlooks it from the north ; on the east it is en v,ironed by the mountains of Elburz, the traditionary abodes of demons, and on the east-the extensive ruins of the once proud city of Rhe, the ancient Rhages, cover the plain as far as the eye can reach. Here Alexander is said to have rested five days in his pursuit after Darius. It was destroyed by the generals of Chenghiz Khan, and from its scattered population arose the city of Teheran. Teheran is between four and five miles in circumference, and, dur ing the residence of the king, contains from 60,000 to 70,000 inhabitants ; but, when the summer heats compel his majesty to remove his household, and pitch his tents on the plains of Sultanea, or Oujan, the population of the capital is reduced to little more than 10,000. This city is surrounded by a strong wall, flanked by innumerable towers, and a dry ditch with a glacis. It has few public edifices, and the only building of consequence is the cita del, which contains the palace of the sovereign and his offi cers. About two miles to the north-east of Teheran, is the king's pleasure house, called Tahkt-a-Cadjar. Though formed of coarse materials, and but rudely furnished, it is erected on a model admirably calculated for the heat of the summer. It is wholly built of brick, except the exterior wall, which is mud, flanked by brick turrets ; and it pre sents a grand elevation, consisting of six successive ter races, which, at a distance, has the appearance of so many stories.