'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎125v] (255/706)

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’IRAQ-I-’AJAM
across the north-west of the province, and connects the Elburz system
with that of Azarbaljan ; 4th, of the Bakhtiari mountains, which are an
offshoot of the Alvand range. The province is essentially mountainous,
and therefore there are no large valleys or plains ; vet between the different
ranges are to be found plains of small extent.
The climate is very various ; in the vicinity of Isfahan it is one of the
most temperate, equable, and delightful in the world. Excepting for a few
weeks of the year, the sky of this favoured region is unclouded and serene.
Tiie rains are never heavy a d the snow seldom lies long on the ground.
The air is so pure and dry that the brightest polished metal may be exposed
to it without being corroded by rust. The regularity of the seasons in this
part of Persia appears quite extraordinary to a person accustomed to a more
uncertain and variable climate, for they perceptibly change almost to the
hour. The northern portion does not enjoy so favourable a climate as
Isfahan. The country about Hamadao is very mountainous and the winter
severe, while the cities of Kashan and Qum, which are situated on the verge
of deserts, are exposed to almost as oppressive a heat in summer as the count
ries on the shore of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Tehran is liable to great vicissitudes
of climate and is not deemed salubrious.
Arrangements for supplies for troops can be easily made at any time of
the year at the following places, viz., Kirmanshah, Sinneh, Bijar, Hamadan,
Saqqiz, Khurramabad, Burujird, Kangavar, Daulatabad, Sultanabad,
Khunskr, Isfahan and Shiraz. All sorts of supplies and provisions can be
procured'in great abundance in these towns. Besides the above, there are
also several smaller towns and large villages, where supplies can be obtained.
For cattle and mules plenty of barley and grass can be had at these places ;
sheep and ghi are also procurable . It is a prevailing custom in all the towns
and villages in Persia, however small they maybe, to collect and keep a suffi
cient supply to last for the four winter months.
Firewood is the only thing, which there is some difficulty in obtaining, on
account of its scarcity, but it can be procured to some extent in all the big
towns by cutting down gardens and orchards. There are only two places
where it can be got in abundance, viz., at Pusht-i-Kuh and Khurramabad,
near which places are large forests. In consequence, the price of firewood
throughout the district is high. One TabrizI man (=61 lbs.) is to be had
for three shahls or about nine pies Indian money.
Charcoal is procurable at Khurramabad and Burujird in great quantities,
but is not so plentiful in other places.
Grass fodder for mules is very scarce in the jungle, but for camels and
cattle, fodder of sorts is procurable. The people store fodder for the
four winter months. Any town or village is sure to have at least 500 to 1,000
khanvdrs (a kharwdr being 100 TabrizI mans=about 650 lbs. English).
During the winter snows the animals are not allowed to graze in the jungles,
but are brought home.
As many as 400 baggage mules could formerly be obtained on hire at
almost all the places mentioned above, by giving a week’s previous notice
Kirmanshah is the principal mart for merchants and other dealers, and 500
yabus and mules can be easily purchased here for transport purposes. It is