'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎36r] (76/706)

AZARBAIJAN 59
due south (draining on the west to the Jaghatu river and on the east to the
tributaries of the Kizil Uzun) as far as the latit .de of Mianduab, when it
gives a short turn east and then resuming its southeasterly course leaves the
province of Azarbaijan.
The principal peaks of this range, which may with justice be termed
the Azarbaijan range, are those of the Savalan Dagh, which reach
a height of 12,000 to 13,000 feet, and of Sahand, rising to 11,600 feet.
There are no data to show what the average height of the main ridge is.
The plain country of Azarbaijan merely consists of the valleys of the
various rivers, which always have on their banks some level ground of
.greater or less breadth. On the right bank of the Aras there are some
extensive plains as that of'Mughan and there are besides the plains of Ujan
Tabriz and Urumieh.
The rivers of this province are the Aras on the north with its tributary,
the Karasu, which receives the north dainage of the Kuh Ma’shuq, Kosha
Dagh and Savalan Dagh ; the Kizil Uzun on the east with its tributaries,
the Qarangu and Aidughmish, which collect all the water of the Buzgush
and Sahand mountains; the Jaghatu, which drains from the Kurdistan
range to lake Urumieh, and, finally, the smaller streams of the Aji Chai,
of the Dilman river, and of Urumieh.
The only lake in .the province of any importance is that of Urumieh or
Shahi, described elsewhere.
The valleys of Azarbaijan are alluvial slopes formed by torrents.
Forests are numerous and extensive, and part of the province, as for
instance the basin of Urumieh, is extremely fertile. As they recede from
the east and north the intervals between the ridges are wider, and the
rainfall smaller, till grassy slopes are replaced by gravelly forests and
shifty sands with occasional patches of green oasis. The pasture lands
are extensive and valuable, comprising as they do the slopes of nearly
all the mountains and many fine plains besides. The villages are, for the
most part, embosomed in orchards and gardens but it cannot as a whole
be considered a great timber or fuel producing province.
The climate of Azarbaijan is described as warm in summer and very
severe in winter but healthy. The spring is temperate .and delightful,
as is the autumn on the plains ; but on the mountains it is always cold,
though in summer the sun is hot. The winter lasts long and, in the moun
tains, snow lies for seven and eight months in the year.
Mr. Campbell, who spent a winter in the country, described the climate
as follows :—
“ On the 20th October, he says, wn had a heavy fall of snow which
covered all the surrounding country, but it did not remain long on • the
ground, for the weather again became mild, and we had no excessive cold
till the middle of December, from which period till the end of January
the thermometet when exposed to the air at night never rose above zero,
and in our rooms at midday seldom reached higher than 18°. January
was by far the coldest month. The water became almost instantaneously
solid in the tumbler on the dining table. .The ink was constantly frozen
in our inkstands although the tables were quite close to the fire. For at
least a fortnight not an egg was to be had, all being split by the cold*