The plain which extends from l-pahan to Teheran contains the towns of Kashan and Koom. kasha,' is one of most flourishing towns in Persia; it owes its prosperity to its manufactures of silk and cotton brocades, carpets, and especially copper wares. It is as large as Shiraz, but better peopled. Boom, which lies farther north, a large place, but almost entirely in ruius, was formerly celebrated for its manufactures of silk. At present it is only noted as a place of pilgrimage. Among the shrines of this sacred place, that of Fatima, the sister of Ali Reza, the eighth Imam, is the most celebrated. Her tomb is in the centre of a lofty mosque, adorned with mosaic work in coloured tiles, and fitted up with rich carpets The dome is covered with gilt tiles. In the mountainous country west of these towns are Kbonsar and Hamadan. Khonsar is built in a long narrow valley, between steep and barren mountains, and is six miles in length, though not more thau a quarter of a mile in width. It consists of isolated houses, surrounded by extensive orchards, and contains 2500 families. Hamadan is on or near tho site of the ancient town of Ed:Patens South of Hamadan is the snow-capped Mount Elwund, a lofty peak in the eastern range of mountains, which is connected with the Zagros by tho Bills of Sungur. North of liamadan, on tho table-land of Azerbijan, lies the town of Zenjan, a populous and thriving place, which derives its importance from being situated where the roads from Hamadan aud Teheran to Tabriz meet. Went of this town, near the boundary-line of the province of Azerbijsu, and rather within the last-mentioned country, are extensive ruins, called Takht-i-Soleiman, of the ancieut ECflATAXA of Atropatene. South-east of Zenjan, and at no great distance from it, is Sultaniyeh, town quite in ruins, in which the reigning royal family has built is palace, to which they retire when the heat in Teheran becomes opprea give. On the road from Zenjan to Teheran is Kazvin, or CASUIN.
Teheran, or Tehran, the present capital of Persia and seat of govern ment, is situated on a plain about eight miles from the base of the Elburz range, in a country without trees, and only covered with verdure during the spring. The town is about four miles in circumference, surrounded by a strong and high mud wall flanked by numerous towers and a dry ditch. The streets are narrow and crooked ; the houses are built of sun-dried bricks, and are mean, with the exception of a few palaces. The only building of consequence is the citadel, which contains the palace of the sovereign and his officers. The popu lation during the residence of the court is about 100,000 ; but when tho king goes to Sultaniyeh, it is diminished by one-third of that number. In the neighbourhood are several royal country-houses, and the ruins of Rai, the Rhagm of the ancients, and once the capital of the Parthian empire. About 70 miles K from Teheran, ou one of the mountains of the Eiburz range, is the fortress of Firuz-Koh, which is of great importance, as it commands the most accessible of the moun talu-paases which lead over the range to the plain of Mazanderan.
I0. Ghilli] comprehends the western portion of the low plain which surrounds the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. It is the lowest pert of the plain, and more subject to inundations and contiunal rains than Mazanderan, which lies farther east. During the greater part of
the ysor it is properly • swamp, covered partly with foreebt-reee and partly with plantations of mulberries and rice-fields. There are no visage. in this country, the peasant, residing either In single dwellings; or in small communities seldom exceeding eight houses. In some placer there are basaara, which, as well as tire small clusters of huts, are situated in the midst of the forests or plantations of mulberry trees. Roar, the capital of Ghilan, one of the most commercial places in Persis, is situated in the midst of a forest at some distance wort of the month of the Sold-Ital. The population is variously stated between 50,000 and 80,000. The houses are of a superior construction, sad the streets generally well raved. Its commercial connections extend to Hushed and lierat, Teheran and Isfahan, and also to Badku, or Baku. and Astrakhan. There are several extensive manufactories of silk stuffs. The commerce with Astrakhan Is carried on by means of the port of Enzillee„ which is about 18 miles from licaht, and separated from it by a lagoon. Lahljan is a neat well-built town, on an Island formed by the bifurcation of the river Sad-Rud. It has a considerable commerce in silk with Reeht and lepahan. The population amounts to 15,000. The most northern portion of Ghilan is called 'Palish.
11. Maaanderen comprehends the largest and widest portion of the low plain along the shores of the Ca.spinn Sea. Though the country along the sea La very low and marshy, It rises somewhat at a short distance from the shore, owing to which circumstance the inundations produced by the heavy rains are less extensive and of much shorter duration, especially as the rains themselves are less frequent and less heavy, than in Ohilan. The climate is accordingly much more healthy, and several plants are extensively raised which do not succeed in Chile's, especially the sugar-cane and cotton ; but it does not produce so much silk as that province. It is however very well cultivated, and populous. The most western town is Amor.. Farther east is Batraran. Sane, the capital of the province, is a very ancient town. The walla, which are of mud, and strengthened with square brick towers, are about two miles in circuit. The streets are unpaved, and often impassable in bad weather. The town contains a population of 30,000 or 40,000, and has some commerce with Astrakhan by means of its harbour Farah-Abad, situated at the mouth of the river Tejen, which runs cast of the town. At Farah-Abad the Russians have established a very extensive fishery, as great numbers of sturgeons enter the river : they send caviar and isinglass to Astrakhan. At this place are the ruins of a large palace built by Shah Abbas the Great A great artifielal road was constructed by Shah Abbas the Great, through the provinces of Ghilan and Mazenderan. It begins at Kiskar, the western extremity of Ghilan, traverses the low plains, and ascends the declivity of the table-land of Iran by the pass which leads to Beaten in Khorasan, whence it is carried within a short distance of Mushed. In most parts it is still used, though it has been damaged in some places by torrents and inundations. It appears to have been 15 or 16 feet wide, and to have been constructed by filling a deep trench with gravel and stones, over which a regular causeway was very firmly built.