'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎128r] (260/706)

ISFAHAN
243
improved. The real evils to be fought against are the mullas and want
of communications.
The Isfahan market serves as a distributing centre for the villages of
the district, for the Bakhtiari country and for other towns in Persian Traq,
and is therefore very important. British trade used to hold the whole
market, but since the disturbances on the southern roads (1909 onwards)
it has been gradually losing its position.
In 1910-11 of 23,000 bales of cotton 22,000 were British and 1,000 Rus
sian, and in 1911-12 out of 17,150 to 17,200, 16,500 were British and 650
to 700 were Russian.
But later on in 1912, the Russians made strenuous efforts to capture the
Isfahan market from British trade. The revenue, which up till now had
always been lodged in the Imperial Bank, was lodged in the Russian Bank
and Russian goods from the north were escorted to Isfahan by the Cossack
Brigade, whereas British trade, owing to insecurity in the south, was unable
to reach Isfahan at all.
In normal times 65 % of the French sugar brought into Isfahan
(valued at £ 160,000) is imported by British firms and 35 % by Russians.
In 1910-11 these figures were reversed. The increase of Russian trade
induced the Russian Banque d’Escomptes to open a branch in Isfahan
in 1910.
The inhabitants have by no means lost their manufacturing industry.
All kinds of woven fabrics, from the most
Industries. expensive velvet and satin to the coarsest
nankin and calico, are manufactured ; besides which, many hands are em
ployed in making gold and silver trinkets, paper and paper-boxes, orna
mented book-covers, guns, pistols, sword blades, glass and earthen-ware.
The sweetmeat shops, too, are a remarkable feature in this city ; these
are very numerous, and the consumption is almost incredible. Silk
and woollen carpets are also now woven in Isfahan with considerable success,
ISF AH AN—(Province).
A Province of Persia, formerly one of the districts of the province of
’Iraq-i-’A] am, roughly speaking lying between longitude 50° and 54°, and
latitude 32°—34°.
The Province of Isfahan extends in the north-east and east to the desert,
in the south-east to Yazd and Ears, in the west to the Bakhtiari country,
in the north-west to Luristan, Kazzaz, Kamareh, and Mahallat, in the
north to Jushqan, and Natanz.
In' A. D. 228 Ardashir, of the Sassaman dynasty, is said to
have reduced Isfahan as well as Assyria,
Hlstory ' Media and Parthia, so apparently Isfahan
was in these days already an important place.
In 1604 Isfahan was made the capital of Persia by Shah ’Abbas I, who
constructed many fine buildings in the place, and originated a court which be
came famous among foreigners for its splendour.
In 1716 Mahmud of Ghazni advanced on Isfahan and defeated the Persian
army with great slaughter. Mahmud then entered the city and sacked it,
destroying most of its nobility and inhabitants in a series of appalling mas
sacres.