'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎127v] (259/706)

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ISFAHAN
Isfahan and Julfa are remarkably healthy places, and were it not for
the prevalence of epidemics, the death-rate would be very low, Europeans
do not seem to be much affected by the hot weather, certainly not nearly
bo much as in other parts of Persia both farther north and south.
The following are the mean normals of observation at the station of
Isfahan, obtained from the Meteorological Department :—
. i Month.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Wind Resul
tant.
Rain.
January
46-5
231
N. 77° W.
0-26'
February
54-2
29-1
W.
0-17'
March ..
61°
36°
S. 51° W.
0-99'
April ..
73-°l
45-7
S. 84° W.
0-33'
May
84°-l
54-1
N. 84° W.
o-ir
June .. .. .. .,
95°
83°
W.
O.
July ..
98-3
66-2
N.
O.
August
95'5
61-4
N.
O.
September
90°
55-2
W.
O.
October
77-4
44-5
N. 72° W.
0-21
November
62°
36°
N. 76° W.
0-92
December
52-3
29.3
N. 79° W.
0-54
Population. —Isfahan, which once, under Shah ’Abbas, contaired upwards
of 600,000 inhabitants, has never recovered from the destruction and ruin it
endured at the hands of the Afghan conqueror, Mahmud, who in the begin
ning of the last century, captured the city, putting to the sword all the inhabi
tants, who were not able to escape a 15 days’ massacre. The final blow was
inflicted by the removal of the capital and the residence of the monarch
to Tehran. At present, 1913, its population including that of Julfa and
other immediately adjacent villages is computed at 80,000.
Resources. — Water-supply .—The water-supply of Isfahan city is excellent,
coming, as it does, in numerous canals from the Zindeh Hud. There are
also numerous wells, water being found at 10-12 ft. There are only a few
Kandts.
Trade .—The chief exports are opium, cotton tumbac, skins, hides and
pelts, almonds etc., and gum tragacanth. Although the cultivation of opium
has declined in the last 10 years and continues to do so (1912), it still
remains the most important product for export.
The principal imports in the order of their importance are cotton
piece goods, sugar (loaf and soft), metals, (copper, iron, yellow metal), indigo
(natural and synthetic), tea, silks, velvet textiles, kerosine oil and woollen
cloth.
Mr. Consul-General Preece in his report of 1900 states that British trade,
if not actually decreasing, is stationary ; he attributes this to the supineness
of the Government, antagonism of the Mullas, high price of provisions and
bad communications. The customs arrangements, too, were an impediment,
but doubtless now that the Belgians have talcen them over, this has