'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎129r] (262/706)

ISFAHAN
245
about 100 Tabriz! mans. Kice is rather scarce, as it is sown in smaller
quantity than wheat. The soil of Persians very good, and capable of pro
ducing almost anything. For irrigation purposes, water from springs,
canals, and nala • is used. The following plants and vegetables are pro
duced plentifully, viz., toba-co, cotton, castor, pulses, peas, potatoes, cab
bages, cauliflowers, beetroots, carrots, turnips, radishes, cucumbers and many
others. Shaftal and lucerne grass for horses are grown in great quantities.
The fruit trees grown are pears, quinces, apricots, peaches, plums, cher
ries (of six kinds), grapes of different kinds, melons, water melons, almonds,
pomegranates, apples of different kinds, figs, etc.
The carriage of the place is done indiscriminately by mules, camels
Transport ancl donkeys. The mules are mainly bred by
the Bakhtiaris, who also breed very good horses,
sturdy and strong, and wonderfully good on the hillside. Donkeys
are bred all round in the various villages of the district. Camels are bred
in the south and about the villages near the desert. Being in the centre
of the high road from Bushire to Tehran, Isfahan is not dependent on its
own local supply, but is fed by all the districts within those limits.
For “ Industries ”, “ Trade” and “ Water ”
see under Isfahan City.
The official Army List gives the troops in
the province in 1900 as under;—
Infantry Battalions 3.
Irregular Cavalry 1,100.
Artillery 500.
Of the above, the nominal strength under arms and actual strength under
arms is shewn below
Trade.
Military.
—
Nominal
Actual.
Artillery
100
50
Cavalry
200
100
Infantry
800
400
In 1907 there were three infantry regiments attached to the Isfahan
district. Of these one the “Jallahieh” regiment, with a nominal strength
of 1,000, and an actual strength of under 200, was employed on
guard duties. The other two relieved each other in garrisoning Shiraz,
the men of the one off duty remaining at their villages.
As regards armament, there were said to be 6,000 rifles (Werndl), many
of which were out of repair, and four small rooms full of ammunition—
probably the residue of a supply manufactured locally some years ago
under the orders of the Zil-us-Sultan. There were 12 mountain guns,
of which 7 were serviceable; one an old English muzzle-loader, the others
breech-loaders (Euchatius). There were no horses for the guns, only 16
artillerymen, and scarcely any ammunition.