KHORASAN, KeVra-slini. 'the land of tho sun:. A northeastern province of border ing on the Russian Trans-Caspian Territory on the northeast and Afghanistnil on the east (Alap: Persia, F 3). Area. estimated at 121.000 square miles. A large portion of it consists of the deserts of Litt in the south and Kavir in west, interspersed with numerous oases. The agricultural land is situated chiefly in the north ern part. The climate is on the whole temperate and healthful; but the scarcity of water makes agriculture impossible without. artificial irriga tion. Grain and southern fruits are cultivated to some extent, and cattle are raised. In the cities the manufacturing of silk and woolen materials. carpets. shawls, and arms is pursued. The population is estimated at about S40.000, consisting of numerous nomadic tribes of Turk ish. Kurdish. and Afghan descent. whose chief occupation is grazing. The trade has hitherto
been carried chiefly by the road which leads from Meshed. the capital of the province, to the Cas pian Sea. by way of Astrabad. In ancient times Khora'san consisted of the districts of Parthia.
Margiana, and Aria, forming parts of the Per sian, later of the Parthian, Empire. Up to the sixteenth century the name covered also the Ter ritory of Herat, now belonging to Afghanistan. Khorasan has been several times separated from the Persian Empire, but was finally reunited to it at the commeneement of the sixteenth century by Ismail Soil, the first Suffavean Shah of Per sia. Consult: Macgregor, Journey Through Kho reason. (London, 1879) ; Raddc. "Wissenscha ft liche Ergebnisse," in Petermunns Mittcilungen, vol. •xxvi. (Gotha, 1898) ; Tate, Khurusan and ista?! (London, 1900).