'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎28r] (60/706)

ARDA—ARDA
43
yards square, built of mud, with ditch, draw-bridge, and glacis. There are
no gardens in the vicinity of Ardabil, the strong north-e'/St winds from the
Caspian being very prejudicial to certain kinds of vegetation, especially
fruit trees. The climate is cold a: d is not considered he Ithy, yet in many
localities around, more especially on the banks of the Karasn, abundant
crops of rice, wheat, and barley are raised. Ardab 1 is one of the places
of pilgrimage enjoined on Muhammadans of the ShJ’ah persuasion on account
of hs containing the tombs of Shaikh S'ofi-ud-dln and of his descendant
Shah Isma’il, the founder of the Safavian dynasty.
The following description of the tomb of Shaikh Safi is from Morier
The first approach to the tomb is by the gate at the north-west angle
of the town, which leads into a street enclosed by a brick wall on the
left side, and by the habitations of the priests attached to the foundation
on the right. It then passes through a smaller gateway, faced with slabs
of Tabriz marble, which leads into a court filled with tomb-stones, falling
into decay. The small cupola which covers the mausoleum of the Shaikh
has given way in several places, and has already lost a great number of
its varnished tiles, whilst the walls are full of rents and fissures.
“ On entering the first large hall, visitors are stopped by a silver grat
ing, where they are obliged to take off their shoes. This large hall is
beautifully painted and ornamented, and from its ceiling are suspended
silver lamps and lanterns, and its floor is covered with carpets. At the
furthest end of this hall is the tomb of Shaikh Sufi, and the approach to it
is by one high step, which is bounded by a second silver grating, and
then a gateway, plated with gold, beyond which visitors .are not permitted
to advance. Through this gate the tomb is seen covered with offerings,
among which a golden ewer, set with precious stones, is the most conspi
cuous, having been presented by Humayf n Shah*
“ Close to the tomb of the Shaikh are those of his sons, who commenced
these buildings, but they were completed, beautified, and endowed by the
great Shah ’Abbas. To the left, in a small dark room, is the tomb of Shah
Isma’il, first king of the Safavis.
“ From the tombs the visitor is led to a saloon of large dimensions where
the fine library given to the shrine by Shah ’Abbas used to be kept.
The original endowment of the whole establishment was 18,000 tumdns
per annum, which, like the endowments of mosques,, consists in unalien
able grants of land, the revenues of which are assigned for the maintenance
of the mullas, or priests.
The library of Ardabil was carried off by the Russians in 1828, notwithstand
ing that the place had surrendered without fighting to Count Sutchelen.
The revenue of the town formerly amounted to 14,000 limans per annum,
but it is now much less. The trade of Ardabil is unimportant in contrast
with former years and is mainly in the hands of Armenians ; principally
with Russia through the port of Astara. The imports from thence, chiefly
of iron, steel, paper, earthenware, and hardware, are usually packed in painted
boxes. The imports from the interior of Persia are mostly in transit for
Russia, and amount during the year to about 3,000 Rcrse loads of go 11s,