'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎61r] (126/706)

BURtJJIRD
109
BURUJIRD (PROVINCE)—
A province or district on the borders of Luristan incorporated with
Luristan m 1888. It comprises the Mahails or sub-districts of Silakhur
barlak, Ashnahur, Burbarud and Japalaq.
The finest pastures in Persia are in this district, and excellent Arab ponies
are reared here . r
Schindler gives the following population of the province in 1877
Town
Villages
Silakhur
Japalaq
Bakhtiaris —
Families.
4.000
700
28,000
6.000
8,000
Total
.. 46,700
Of the 570 villages many’are in a ruined state, especially in Burbarud
The taxation comes to about 18 Tcrdns per family (Rs. 5) annually, but*
falls unequally, the inhabitants of the town probably pay double. It is
now one of the largest opium-growing districts in Persia.— (Mmfe)
BURUJIRD (TOWN) —Lat. 33° 53' ; Long. 49° 10'; Elev. 5,050'. (5 315 '
{Schindler.) ’ ‘ v 5 ’
The town is divided into 4 parishes, containing 8,000 houses (of which
at least 2,000 are m rums), some are well built and shew signs of comfort.
Population about 22,000 ; there are 11 mosques, 3 colleges, 12 hammdms
and 6 caravansarais. The bazaars are small, but neat ; the caravansarais
are entered from them. The town has been surrounded by a wall and
ditch, but in most places the wall has fallen down and the ditch is full of
cultivation.
The town and its surrounding villages pay 6,000 tvmdns (£.1,200)
taxes; in the days of farming the customs were let for £2 000
In the bazars there is a good show of cotton goods, Manchester ’ and
Russian.
Burujird was formerly renowned for the excellence of its printed cotton
goods, but this industry has declined, and thev are now imported from
Isfahan. In the town and villages there are 1,000 carpet looms and
3,500 carpets are turned out yearly, the carpets, however, are not good but
what has been done by European firms at Sultanabad {q.v.) might also be
done here. Cotton twist, karbdz, or native cotton cloth, and the uppers of
native shoes, called g~veh are also made here. 130,000 lbs. of cotton the
whole of the local growth, is thus employed.
Burujird exports opium, which is widely renowned in Persia, almonds
and kat ra or gum tragacanth. ' ’
The imports are cotton goods to the value of £20,000 each from England
and Russia, lamps, glassware, cutlery, woollen goods, etc., from Austria and