The wide end fertile valley which runs from Hushed north-west is in the possession of the Kurds, and contains some places of note. The largest is the town of Kaboochan, which contains from 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants, and ie the seat of the most powerful of the five chiefs of the Kurds. It has some commerce in wool, woollen-stuffa, tallow, butter, and sheep-skins. Some distance east of the town is the celebrated fortress of Kelat-Nadiree (the fortress of Nadir), which, according to the information obtained by Fraser from the natives, is iu a valley from 50 to CO miles long by 12 or 15 miles in breadth, surrounded by mountains so steep that a little assistance from art has rendered them quite the rocks being scarped into the form of a gigantic walwall.A small river runs through this valley, and the only points of access occur where the stream leaves It, and even these are fortified by towers and walls, which aro considered impreg nable. The valley is well cultivated, and contains 2000 families in 20 or 30 villages.
9. Iralc•Ajemi, the largest of the provinces of Persia, comprehends a considerable portion of the Great Desert and the countries which inclose its north-western extremity on the west and north, and which in their different parts display • great variety of natural features.
South of Ispahan (32' 30' lat.) the mountains of Kurdistan nate abruptly towards the table-land of Iran, and the country which lies between them and the desert, • space of more than 100 miles, con4ste of long and wide valleys running west and east, and termi nating In the desert. Little water is found in them, except after the melting of the snow, and only a small part of them is cultivated, though the soil seems rather fertile. North of Ispahan, as far as 36' N. lat., the Kurdistan Mountains do not terminate abruptly; but between them and the plain there is a mountainous district, containing wide, fertile, and well-watered valleys. East of this district extends a plain about 40 or 50 miles wide, traversed by Ploversl broad and low ridge., and terminating on the border of the desert. It contains only a few cultivated tracts. That portion of Irak-Ajerni which lies north of 35" N. lat. belongs to the table-land of Azerbijan. Its surface stretches out in a plain consisting of gradual Ascents and descents, and furrowed by deep vallepi In which the rivers flow. Though nearly the whole of this province is destitute of trees, It has excellent pasturage and many well-cultivated tracts. The surface is consider ably higher than the plain farther east, and therefore the climate is not so hot in summer. The range of the Elburz Mountains, with its well-watered and fertile valleys, and its high summits, is included in Irak-Ajeml, as well as the hilly country which skirts its southern base, and which is generally well cultivated, being irrigated by the rivers that descend from the southern declivity of the Eiburz Mountains.
That part of the desert which is included in Imk-Ajemi contains an oasis of considerable extent, in which the town of Yezd is situated. The oasis has a sandy soil, and is nearly inclosed by mountains. But though it is sparingly watered, it produces much silk and fruit. The wheat that is raised is only sufficient for forty days' consumption, and large quantities of grain are imported from Ispahan. On the north,
east, and south, the Great Desert spreads out to a great extent; but on tha west, a series of small oases connect that of Yezd with the more fertile districts east of Ispahan. The town of Tad is very large, con taining about 8000 houses and 50,000 inhabitants, among which 3000 or 4000 families are Guebres, or fire-worshippers. Yezd is remark able as a commercial and manufacturing town. Its commercial importances arises from the caravan routes, which here cross one another. Two of these routes come from Herat and Meshed; two from the west, from Ispahan and Shiraz; and one from the south, from Kerman. Thus this town is the entrepat of the commerce between India, Turkistan, and the western countries of Asia. A great variety of silk-stuffs are manufactured. Raw silk is Imported from Ghilan. Cotton is also manufactured to some extent, as well as carpets and felts; and much sugar-candy is made and exported. The summers are very hot, but the winters are cold. A good deal of snow fella, but it does not lie long on the ground.
Ispahan, or, more correctly, Isfahan, is still perhaps the most popu lous town in Persia. When it was the residence of Shah Abbas the Great its population was stated to be between 600,000 and 1,000,000. At present it is said to amount' to between 100,000 and 200,000. It stands on the banks of the Zeinde-Rud, which during the heats of summer has little water, but in the spring months is equal to the Seine at Paris in winter. The mud walls are 24 miles in circuit. The streets are crooked, narrow aud dirty, and unpaved, like those of most Persian towns. Ispahan contaiva a great number of magnificeut palaces, large private buildings, spacious caravanserais, and haudsomo bazaars, most of which however are in a state of decay. On the southern side three nobly-constructed bridges cross the river; and near them, within the town, is a number of shady avenues of trees, which render that part of the city a very paradise, aud lead to the great bazaar of Shah Abbas. This extensive building is vaulted above to exclude the heat, but it admits air and light : it is now nearly abandoned. In a still worse condition is the Maidan-Shat, or Great Square, which is 700 yards long and 200 yards wide, and inclosed by a double range of arched recesses. The other bazaars are still partly crowded, but most of the numerous caravanserais have been converted to other and meaner purposes. The most sumptuous of the palaces is the with its ball of columns inlaid with mirrors ao as to resemble pillars of glass. This building is situated in the centre of a garden, divided, according to the Persian fashion, into compart ments by walks and canals bordered with poplars and stately chinars. There are also many other each with its owu garden. Many of the mosques and medresses are in ruins; but a few of them are still in good preservation, especially the medresa built by the mother of Shah Abbas, the gates of which are covered with wrought silver. Near the town is the suburb of Julia, which is inhabited by Arum visas, and contains a population of 12,500. The commerce of Ispahan is very great. The manufactures are various end numerous ; in that of gold brocade it has attained unrivalled excellence.