'Additions to Gazetteer of Persia, Volumes II to IV.' [‎5r] (9/370)

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HUNISTUN.—Pasre 166.
A villag , e in the Shahrnd division, N. Persia, 108 miles E. of Astra-
bad, containing 80 houses. Water plentiful from a copious stream which
issues from a Kanat. Firewood abundant from the hills. 30 Karwars
of crops, chiefly wheat and barley. Grapes, melons, and tomatoes are
abundant. Sheep 6,000 to 8,000.— [Vaughan, 188?).
JUM AIN.—Page 181.
Lat. Long. Elev.
A town of Kborasan consisting of 500 houses. It is an unwalled
town ; the bazar is very small, consisting about 30 shops. The caravan
serai is a poor one; there are three merchants resident here. Outside the
town is an arg or citadel, which, though presenting an imposing appear
ance from a distance, is in a ruinous state.as regards its defences.
In it the Governor resides, who collects a revenue of 18,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
fr m the population of the plain, which is said to consist of 100,000, in
cluding nomad tribes, whose wonderings are confined to the plain and ad
jacent mountains. These tribes possess immense floc’cs of sheep and goats.
There are numerous fruit gardens, and their produce is immense, owing
to the fertility of the soil and the abundance of water.
The view from the high central tower of the citadel is a striking and
most unusual one for Persia. Around the town, for a radius of nearly a
mile, are waving fields of golden coloured wheat, which the people are
now reaping. Beyond them in every direction is cultivated ground on
which the young opium lies green. The whole of this expanse is dotted
about with walled fruit gardens, filled with large fruit trees, while further
still beyond them, numerous belts of trees, with domes and minaret
rising above them mark the positions of other towns.
At 4- or 5 miles distance the plain consists of an open uncultivated ex
panse of grass, which extends to the foot of the mountains, apparently
encircling the plain on all sides.
At the foot of the hills numerous towns and villages, each in the midst
of its own cultivation, are visible through my glasses.
Wheat, barley and opium are the prirciapl crops. Twenty thousand
mans of opium are grown here, the bulk of which goes to lezd.
Firewood is obtained from the surrounding hills, and is dear.
The climate is said to be temperate and healthy. r lhe x’ainfall is in
excess of that of most parts of Persia.
This place is evidently capable of supplying a large force for a consi
derable time.— [Vaughan, 1887).
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