'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎216r] (436/706)

MABAR—MAftAN
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which a zig-zag path leads. The ledge, 2 or 3 feet wide, leads horizontally
to the mouth of a tunnel which, after a short distance, opens into a cavern
with a wide fissure in its front face. This fissure 30' high has been built
up with masonry, and a breastwork raised to enable men to fire over the
aperture. The foot of the cliff is about 80 yards below. Water is stored in
a rock-cut basin, and a narrow aperture gives out on a break-neck path
leading to the mountain above. The cave commands the Avoglu-Julfa
road. Gold has been found in the plain near by, but not in paying quanti
ties. During flood time (in spring) the river floods the lower part of the
valley and the road to Karazladln has to take to the hill side. In ordinary
dry weather, with the river at its usual level, carriages can pass fairly
easily.— (Picot, 1894.)
MARAK, MARRAGH, KHARABEH, or MIRIK—
A village in the Dukhan District, 126 miles from Tehran and 61 from
Hamadan, on the road between the two.
It is a small village, with a chaparichaneh, built on the site of a ruined
town, situated in a dell between hills, with a few trees and scanty cultiva
tion, watered by a stream .—{Taylor ; Schindler.)
MARAN (1).—Elev. 5,040 / .
A village in Kurdistan stituated in the Bilawar valley at its western
extremity. It contains 80 to 100 houses inhabited by Bilawarl Kurds,
Sunn's and is the residence of Agha Khan. It has a plantation of trees’
chiefly poplars, a garden and a considerable amount of cultivation, of which
wheat and tobacco form a cons ; derable part. Melons and pumpkins are
largely grown in the summer ; good grazing ; water plentiful from a stream.
Supplies : 20 horses, 50 cows, 600 sheep and goats, and donkeys. Roads
run from here to Juanrud and Kirmanshah, distant 28^ and 45* miles, res
pectively.—( Vaughan.)
MARAN (2).—
A plain in the Kirmanshah province.
About 10 mdes south-west of Kangavar where 2 branches of the Kar-
kh h join. The first and most inconsiderable has its commencement about
25 miles west of Hamadan, the second has three springs on the side
of Mount Alvand, 6 or 8 miles south of that place. The latter runs south-
westwards till it meets the former in the plain of Maran about 10 miles
south-west of Kangavar.— (Rabino, 1907.)
MARAND.—Elev. 3,950'.
A small town m Azarbaijan of about 3,000 houses, the seat of the Governor
of the district, and boasting a fine bazaar. The district grows a la>rge
amount of fruit, in which an*export is done with Russia ; also of gums,
carpets, wool and honey. Russian cottons are more popular then Eng
lish. Between Marand and Khoi are found very large deposits of rock
salt, large mountains being sometimes almost entirely composed of it
Maku and the Bayazid district of Turkey are supplied with salt from here.
The Persian army list shews two half-battalions and a regiment of artil
lery at Marand, but their existence is very doubtful. It is the plaoe