'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎365] (440/905)

CHAP, XVI.] COMMERCIAL OBJECTS.
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ful rival of Sivas, especially in summer, when the journey into
Persia from that port is shorter by many days, and the goods
passing in that direction have in consequence increased from
5000 bales in 1830 to nearly 20,000 in 1834. 1 Nor are the
advantages of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. less apparent, the route from
thence to Mosul, by way of Mush, Bitlis, Se'rt, and Jezireh,
being accomplished in 22 days, whereas 27 days are consumed
between Samsun and that city : from Mosul there is a water
transport by rafts to Baghdad, and by boats from the latter
city to Basrah.
When the peninsula constituted a province of ancient The trade
Persia it was divided into 5 districts, which yielded about one- by
seventh of the revenue of the empire; but although its
resources are greatly diminished since those days, the produc
tions already enumerated would afford a full equivalent for the
imports. These are at present chiefly confined to coifee, sugar,
spices, cutlery, British yarns, cloths, muslin, and printed
goods; but the heavy taxes which are exacted on European
as well as Asiatic imports, added to the still more ruinous
system of farming monopolies on almost every branch of indus
try, seriously diminish the trade of the country. Meat, oil,
fruits, soap, tobacco, coffee, salt, charcoal, and goods,—in short,
all the wants of the town's people are taxed by the governor
to a degree which, in some places, has much diminished the
imports since 1835.
The permanent dwellings of the inhabitants are sometimes Dwellings of
on the plains, but more generally on the sides of the hills and
mountains overlooking the latter, or in wild and secluded rocky
valleys; and they are of three kinds. Those in the last situa
tions are partly or wholly excavated in the live rock, and usually
consist of one or two apartments, closed towards the exterior
by an arched wail, through which a supply of light is admitted.
Urgub, Sowanll-Dereh, Kirk Hinn, Yarapason, Doghanli
Afiyum-Kara-hisar, Gelvedereh, and Tatlar, are specimens of
these singular grottoes, which contain dwelling-houses, dove-
1 Mr. Brant's Journey through Asia Minor, &c., Vol. VI. Part II., p. 189,
of the Royal Geographical Journal.