WEIGIITS. MEASURES, AND MONEY. The kran, a silver coin, is the monetary unit. Its value, subject to great fluctuations, is about 8.2 cents. The copper coinage has been entirely replaced by large quantities of nickel 5 and 10 centimes pieces coined at Brussels and put into circulation in 1900. There are six gold coins, subdivisions or multiplications of the toman, which is nominally worth 10 krans. Very little gold is in circula tion. The unit of weight is the ruiskal (71 grains). but most articles are bought and sold by a weight called batman or man, which varies in avoirdupois, one of the most cuanni(inly used being the man-i-Tabriz. which equals 640 miskals or 6.49 pounds. The unit of measure is the zar or gez, of which several standards are in use, the most common measuring 40.95 inches.
l'OPULATION. The inhabitants number over 9,000,000, the largest part of whom live in the cities and towns. Large areas are uninhabited,
and the density of the population is only about 14 to the square mile. The estimated population of the principal cities is: Teheran. 250,000; Ta briz, 180.000; Meshhed, 60.000; Kirman, about 40,1)110; Yazd, 55,000: Ralfrush and shiraz, 50,000 each. The inhabitants are divided into two distinct classes. the dwellers in towns or villages and the dwellers in tents. Many of the richer dwellers in the towns leave for the mountains during the hot summer months. The nomads, including Arabs (26)1,0001, Kurds and Leks (675.0001. Turks (720.0001. !Airs 1234.0001. and Baluchis and Gypsies (20.7001, move from place to place according as their ani mals need pasturage or their other interests dictate.