"دليل بلاد فارس. مجلد II" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٧] (٧٠٦/٥٥٨)

SARD- SARI
541
The valley of Sardasht is close to the bed of the Ak Su river. Caravans
from Sulaimanleh to Sauj Bulagh pass chiefly by Sardasht. It is three
marches from Sardasht to Sauj Bulagh generally, and three stages to Sulai
manleh.
SARDEH KUH (the cold mountain)—
Another nartie for the Kuh-i-Surkh (q.v.) near Daulatabad Malayar.—
{Schindler.)
SARDSlR—
One of the two divisions of the province of Kashan, consisting of the
hilly portion of the province. Besides villages described in their proper
place, Sirk and Jushqan are important villages. There are a great number
of small villages and hamlets. Game abounds in the hills of this district;
the inhabitants are civil, obliging and Yionzst—{Schindler.)
SARI— Lat. 36° 33' 52"; Long. 53° 2' 30' / .
A town 80 miles south-west of Astarabad and 35 miles from Ashraf.
It was the old capital of Mazandaran, and has been identified as the
Zadracarta of the ancients where Alexander halted for 15 days. It was the
capital, and residence of the independent sovereigns, who_ruled in this
region in the middle ages. The modern city was selected by Agha Muham
mad Shah as his capital, when fighting for the throne, when his dominions
did not extend much beyond Mazandaran and Astarabad. The town is
surrounded by the usual mud wall, which is quite ruined, a thin wall, and 4
gates, but none of these defences are of the smallest use.
It is situated in a flat plain, on the left bank of the Talar river, bounded
by mountains to the north-east and south-west.
Napier, 1874, puts the population down at 15,000 to 16,000 which is con
firmed by General Maclean in 1888. Lord Curzon estimates the popula
tion at 8,000, many having migrated to Barfarush, or Amul, whither all
former trade has gone. The streets are stone paved and the town, built
mainly of burnt brick, covered with green and red glazed tiles, presents
a picturesque appearance.
There is a ruined palace of Shah Agha Muhammad, and 3 towers, the
tombs of Imams destroyed, or partially destroyed, since Fraser described
them. There is a Persian Government telegraph office.
Supplies are plentiful and cheap, water from ab-ambars which are kept
in good repair.
The climate of Sari is very unhealthy and feverish in the summer months.
The population of Sari is of mixed origin. The Zaths, or Persians, probably
predominate, Turks, Kurds, and some few hundred Bangashis, Afghans,
and Turkomans making up the list. The governor’s authority extends
directly only over the eastern parts of the province. — {Napier ; Maclean ;
Curzon.)