In no part of Persia is the number of ruins so great as in Farsistan. The most remarkable are those of Persepolis [Penszrous], which are situated north-east of Shiraz, at a small place called Iatekhar or Istakhr. The ruins of the ancient town of Shaper are situated north west of Kazerun, where they cover an area six miles in circumference, amidst rocks and precipices, many of which are decorated with sculp tures similar to those near Persepolis. A statue from 15 to 20 feet high, now mutilated, is found in an immense cavern at Shaper. At iforrghab, 49 miles N.N.E. from latakhr, are other extensive ruins, resembling those of Persepolis, among which a building, called by the natives Musjed-l-Madre Solyman, is remarkable. It is considered by some persons to be the tomb of Cyrus the Great. [Pasaecianze.] Near the great ruins of Persepolis are the Naksh-i-Roostan and the Naksh-l-Rejib, both of which are considered to be tombs of kings of the Sassaoian dynasty. Very extensive ruins occur in the neighbour hood of Firoze-Abads They occupy a large apace in the plain, about 17 miles in length and half that distance in width. Other ruins of some extent occur in the neighbourhood of Darabgherd, and in several other places.
6. Laelatin occupies the country between Cape Berdistan and the Wand of lashm, and consists of the Dushtistan and a hilly country. The low coast Is in possession of the Arabs, who are subject to the Imam of Muacat. The hilly country, which is about 100 miles in width, is sterile along the low plain, but seems to contain a great number of fine valleys, which produce dates and other fruits, and also grain. There are several small harbours on the Persian Gulf. The capital, Lar, is at the foot of a range of hills, In an extensive plain, which is covered with palm-trees. It contains about 12,000 iuhabit ant., and is celebrated for the manufacture of swords, muskets, and cotton-cloth. The bazar is the noblest structure of that kind iu Persia. It is built in the same manner as that of Shiraz, but on a much grander scale, the arches being more lofty, the breadth and length greater, and the work in every way superior. The houses are commodious. The only water used is from large cisterns, in which it is collected during the wet season. Tarun, E.N.E. of Lar, is as large and populous as Lar, but meanly built. It carries on a considerable commerce with Muscat, Gombroon, and Shiraz.
7. Kamm occupies the south-eastern part of Persia, extending along the Persian Gulf from Cape Jask to a place opposite the island of Krallur, and thence northward to the borders of the desert, of which the adjacent eouthero part is considered as included in this province, aud called the Desert of Kerman. The desert is sandy and impregnated with salt, and here and there intersected by short rocky ridgea. The remainder of the province, which extends more than 200 miles from south to north, but less from west to east, is nearly unknown, except the tract along the shores of the gulf, and another tract in the interior, between 29° and 30° N. lat. That part of the coast east of 57°E. long., which lies along the narrow entrance of the gulf, is extremely moun tainous, and the rocks come close up to the sea, where they form lofty cliffs. The short valleys in these mountains are well watered, afford pasturage all the year round, and contain fine plantations of date and other fruit-trees. Between Sereek aud Mindb, or Mindw, the mountains retire from the shores, and form a plain which is very fertile, and termed by the natives the Paradise of Persia, It abounds in every kind of fruit. The mountains then run northward, retiring more than 50 miles from the sea, and then returning to it to the north of Bunder Abas, or GOmbroon. The plain thus formed rather resembles the sandy tract called Gurmsir than the country surrounding Mindb, being sterile and producing nothing except dates. That portion of the Gurmsir which is within Kerman is subject to the Imam of Muscat, who how ever pays a certain annual sum to the king of Persia. That portion of the interior of Kerman which has been visited by European travellers comprehends the Nurnianshir, a district about 90 miles in length, and from 20 to 30 miles wide, in which are several small towns surrounded by large orchards and extensive cultivated grounds, and comparatively email sterile tracts. Two mountain ranges inclose this district on the south and north. The southern range is of considerable elevation, and covered with snow during the greater part of the year. Between the Nurmanshir and the town of Kerman is a desert, with a few oases of moderate extent ; and about the town itself there is a large tract of very fertile country. West of the town, to the very boundary of Farsistan, there are numerous rocky ridges, with difficult passes, and several large villsgcs, with a good deal of cultivatiou round them.
The town of Kerman, which was destroyed in the civil wars of Persia in 1791, still contains a population of 20,000, of whom a small portion are Guebres : there are also Armenians, Jews, and Hindoos. The trade is still considerable, and it is celebrated for its manufacture of shawls, matchlocks, and carpets, which are chiefly exported to Khorasan and the northern provinces; and in return for which are received drugs, skins (from Bokhara), furs, silk, steel, and copper. These articles, as well as pistachio-nuts, carpets, rose-buds, and bullion, are sent to India, whence spices, cotton-manufactures, broadcloth, china and glass wares, hardware, indigo, tin, lead, and iron are received. The bazaar, which is extensive and well built, is abundantly supplied with articles of every description ; and there are nine large caravanserais within the walls, and a number of inferior ones both within and without. In the country between Kerman and the harbour of Gombroon there is said to be a large place called Sultanabad. The Persians in December 1854 attacked Gombroon, which has been for several years in the possession of the Imam of Muscat. After shelling the town for two days and nights, they defeated the Arabs under the command of the Imam's son; but as far as we have yet learned they did not then succeed in taking the place. Gombroon is noticed separately. [Glostmlooe.] Opposite the town of Gombroon, and about 9 miles from it, is the island of Ki.shm, the largest in the Persian Gulf. It is GO miles long, but the widest part does not exceed 12 miles. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel, which is very intricate, but navig able for the largest ships. The inhabitants live by fishing and agri culture; and the island produces dates, wheat, aud vegetables, with a few grapes, mangoes, and water-melons. There are two towns: Kishm, at the southern extremity, with 2000 inhabitants; and Left, on the northern side. At Bassadore, at the western extremity of the island, the East. India Company formerly had an establishment. Not far from Kishrn is Hormuz. [Omura) 8. Khorasan, or Khorassan, extends over a large part of the Great Desert, and over nearly the whole of the mountainous region which lies north of it. In that portion of the desert which lies between Herat and Yezd, numerous oases occur; most of them are small, but some are of considerable extent, and contain large towns. Among these towns are Gunahabad, with 30,000 inhabitants; Bushrewgah, with 20,000 inhabitants; and Tuhhus, with a still larger population. The wide valleys which lie between the desert and the declivities to the low sandy plains of Turan must possess a considerable degree of fertility, as there are several large towns here, and the villages are numerous and populous, in spite of the frequent incursions of the Turkomans and Kurds. Herat, which is the subject of a separate article, is generally considered to be the capital of Khorasau, although for many years it has been subject to an Afghan chief, who hardly acknowledges even a nominal allegiance to the Shah. ilizner.) The shortest road from Herat to Teheran runs along the northern border of the Great Desert, and on it there are two places of importance Toorbut (20,000 inhabitants) and Toorshish; but this road is not much used. The most frequented road runs from Herat in a north-west direction to 'flushed, and thence westward through Nishapoor and Sebsewar to Shabrood and Bostan. Mashed, or Meshed, occupies a larger space than Herat, but many of the houses are uninhabited and in ruins. The population amounts to 45,000, which however is often doubled by the number of pilgrims who visit the shrine of Imam Reza. A very wide avenue leads from the eastern to the western walla of the town, and is only interrupted by the sahn, or shrine, of Imam Reza. In the middle of it is a canal, and on both sides well fur nished shops. The mausoleum is a magnificent building of great extent, and kept in good condition. A silver gate, the gift of Shah Nadir, opens into the chief apartment, which rises into a noble dome and branches out into the form of a cross. Neither Jew nor Christian is permitted to enter this building. The city has many mosques, and 16 medresses, or colleges. There are also manufactures of steel wares, sword-blades, silks, velveta, polished turquoises and jewellery, and cups, plates, dishes, kc., made of tale. The town of Nis/salvor, which was once a very large place, now contains only 8000 inhabitants. The famous turquoise-mines are about 40 miles from the town towards the north-west. Scbsewar, or Subsalear, contains about 4000 inhabitants ; Sharood, 5000 inhabitants ; and Bostan, 4000 inhabitants. In the neighbourhood of these towns cotton is grown to a great amount.