'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎101v] (207/706)

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• GlLlN
The Indian method of carrying loads slung on either end of a stick c *r-
ried across the shoulder is practised here ; grass, fruit, vegetables, and other
market commodities are brought into town in this manner; and it is the
custom of every one to carry a small basket of reeds in his hands, in which
he puts everything he requires for common use or for journeys; it serves as a
pocket and a wallet too; and being flexible, it folds up and goes under the arm
when empty and expands, as required, when filled.
The food of the Gilanis is very simple and light. Rice and fish are
the principal articles. Besides these, they have abundance of fine poultry
and horned cattle, but mutton is not commonly to be met with, except in
autumn, when all classes are in the habit of consuming meat. Neither
fat nor butter is used in cookery, nor is any sort of bread eaten except in
the towns, the people generally believing it to be injurious to their health in
this climate.
The houses are, as has been remarked, very much scattered, generally
consisting of three or four placed together in the heart of the forest. They
seldom present the appearance of regular villages and are so much screened
from view by the jungle that one is frequently not aware of their proximity.
They are usually clean and neat within, and instead of carpeting they have
beautiful mats, the reeds for which are obtained in abundance all over the
country.
There are few places in Gilan deserving the appellation of town. Rasht
and Lahijan in fact stand alone as such. Enzali Langarud Euman,
Masuleh Kasma, and Tahirgurab are large villages with tolerable bazaars.
Resources. While Gilan is unhealthy and, up to date, utterly neglect
ed yet it is a very fertile belt of country.
The soil of Gilan appears to be in some parts a rich vegetable stratum
on one of sandstone and pebbles ; it is probable from this circumstance
and from marine shells being found underground that at some period the
low country was all under the sea.
Rice is the staple article of food in Gilan and its cultivation has, dur
ing the last 30 years, made enormous strides and has become of para
mount importance. Vast tracts of jungles have been cleared and put un
der cultivation, but the inhabitants will not understand that water may be
necessary and leave everything to nature, consequently; if the rains fail,
the crops fail, in spite of there being water everywhere that could be used
for irrigation purposes . An acre will yield 13,750 lbs. of rice, which is
supposed to be superior to that of Mazandaran.
The flora of the province is exceedingly rich. Amongst the trees, the
oak and beech are in abundance, but the former is seldom of great girth.
A species of very thorny acacia grows all over the country, and the pome
granate and other wild fruit trees abound at certain seasons. Cotton
and sugarcane do not thrive in Gilan, but these form almost the solitary
exceptions.
Forest trees .—The oak, elm, sycamore, ash, walnut and box abound in
Gilan. The marshes and flats display a noble growth of alder, besides several
varieties of poplars, willow and acacia. Amongst the latter, the silk
acacia especially deserves mention and is called by the natives shabkhos,
because it closes its leaves at night.