Face of the Country.] The northern and western frontiers are skirted by lofty chains of mountains, as already mentioned, but the interior consists of an immense, dry, salt plain. Persia suffers for want of water. There is no considerable river in the whole country; the streams which rise in the mountains, after a short course, either falling directly into the sea or losing themselves in the desert.

Soil and Productions.] The mountain streams produce all the fertility of which the empire can boast, and render the plains and vallies through which they flow beautiful and luxuriant in an extraordinary degree. The plain of Shiraz is the pride of Persia and almost of the east; that of Ispahan is also celebrated. The provinces on the Caspian, watered from the great chains of Caucasus and Elbruz, are of very remarkable fertility. The principal productions are the vine, the mulberry, the sugar cane and fruits and grains of various kinds. The wine of Shiraz is considered superior to any other in Asia, and that produced on the declivities of the Caucasian mountains is also highly esteemed. A large portion of the empire, however, is abandoned to pasture, and tenanted by wandering shepherds, like those of Tartary and Arabia. Territories which were formerly distinguished for fertility, are now rendered wholly unfit for culture, in consequence of those artificial canals which supplied them with the necessary moisture having been suffered to dry up. The salt with which the soil and waters are everywhere impregnated, has often accumulated and formed a species of crust on the surface of the ground, so as to render it capable of producing only soda and other saline plants. The province of Khuzistan, in the S. W. which was formerly the seat of powerful dynasties, is now scarcely distinguishable from the desert tracts by which it is surrounded. The centre and south of Persia are entirely destitute of trees, a defect arising from its aridity, and having a constant tendency to increase it.

Climate] The climate is very various. In the mountainous districts the winters are very severe, while the inhabitants of the southern plains suffer in summer from excessive heat. The mildest districts are the provinces on the Caspian where the southern fruits grow in perfection, which are rare in other parts of Persia. The most unhealthy districts are along the shore of the Persian gulf, where the simoom blows over the parched fields.

Chief Towns.] Ispahan, the largest city and long celebrated as one of the most splendid in the east, is situated on the river Zenderoud in lat. 32° 25' N. lon. 52° 50′ E. When visited by Chardin at the beginning of the last century it was estimated to contain 600,000 inhabitants, and there were numerous superb edifices, particularly the royal palace, which was five miles in circuit including the gardens, and is said to have surpassed every thing of the kind which is to be found in Europe; but the city is Dow merely the wreck of what it formerly was, and a person may ride for miles amid its ruins, It is still, however, a great

Ferdusi and Sadi, being classic even in Europe. The late distractions of the kingdom have diminished the number of students at the colleges, but poetry is still cultivated with the same enthusiasm as ever.

Government.] The government is an absolute despotism. The shah or king has always been considered the vicegerent of the prophet, and entitled to the most implicit obedience. He is absolute master of the lives and property of his subjects; and the first man in the kingdom may at his command be instantly stript of his dignities and publicly bastinadoed. The wandering tribes, however, are ruled by their own khans, who are independent in the management of their internal concerns, and merely pay military service when required.

Army] Persia has scarcely any thing which can be called a standing army. The most efficient force consists of the royal slaves, 3,000 in number, a considerable part of whom have recently been disciplined after the European manner. The royal guards, 10,000 in number, are merely a body of militia, who have lands assigned them around the capital, and are ready to be called out at a moments warning. The Shah's main dependence, however, is on the khans of the wandering tribes, who can furnish by a great effort an army of 150,000 or 200,000 men. It consists entirely of cavalry and receives no regular pay, but in return has ample license to plunder.

Manufactures.] The Persians excel in many manufactures, particularly in works of ornament and splendor. Those rich carpets which we call Turkey, from the channel by which we receive them, are manufactured by the Iliats or wandering tribes in the plains of Persia. The Persians excel particularly in brocade and embroidery. Porcelain, nearly equal to that of China, and shawls, similar though inferior to those of Cashmere, are also enumerated among the manufactures of Persia.

Commerce.] Trade in this empire is at a very low ebb. It has no port on the Persian gulf except Bushire, and the small marine which it once maintained there is entirely annihilated. The Caspian never was, and never can be the seat of any extensive trade; since, besides its difficult navigation, the only country with which it affords a communication is Russia. Even this channel is nearly closed by the attitude of habitual hostility in which the two powers are now placed towards each other. The principal commerce of Persia, therefore, is carried on by caravans with Turkey on one side, and Tartary and India on the other.

CABUL.

Situation and Extent.] Cabul or Cabulistan is bounded N. by Independent Tartary, from which it it separated by the Hindoo Coosh and Parapomisan mountains; E. by Hindoostan, from which it is separated by the Indus; S. by Beloochistan; and W. by Persia. Besides the country included within these boundaries, the province of Balk in Tartary, Cashmere and several other countries on the east of the Indus, and a part of Beloochistan are in a greater or less degree dependent on the king of Cabul. In its greatest extent the kingdom stretches from 24° to 37° N. lat. and from 60° to 77° E. lon. and contains according to Hassel more than 300,000 square miles.

Face of the Country.] The Hindoo Coosh and Parapomisan mountains run along the whole northern frontier. The Hindoo Coosh is a very lofty range, many of its summits being covered with perpetual snow, and some of them are scarcely inferior in height to those of the Himmaleh range. A branch of the Hindoo Coosh, called the ridge of Solimaun, proceeds in a southerly direc tion and sinks gradually into the plains of Sinde, at the mouth of the Indus. These two ranges, with branches striking off from them, traverse nearly the whole kingdom, except the tracts near the southern and western frontiers which are occupied by vast plains and sandy deserts.

Rivers.] The Indus is the principal river and forms the natural boundary on the side of Hindoostan. It receives very few important tributaries from this country. The largest is the Cabul, which rises in the mountains of Hindoo Coosh and passing by the city of Cabul joins the Indus at Attock. The Helmond waters the western part of the kingdom, and falls, beyond its frontier, into the lake of Zerrah or Durra.

Climate.] The climate exhibits the most striking varieties, in consequence of the abruptness with which the mountain ranges often rise from the deep plains beneath. A few hours journey carries the traveller from a place where snow never falls to another where it never melts. In some of the plains persons are often killed by the intensity of the hot wind, while regions of eternal ice are towering above.

Soil and Productions.] The soil is nearly as various as the climate. In well watered plains of moderate elevation, as those of Peshawer and Candahar, it is exceedingly fertile and produces two crops in the year. The loftier part of the mountain chains is of course condemned to perpetual ruggedness and sterility. while in the level districts of the south and west extensive deserts are produced by the absence of water. Agriculture is followed with assiduity. The grand process upon which its success depeuds is that of irrigation, which is practised in every part of

the kingdom. Wheat and barley are the staple productions, Fruits and vegetables of various kinds are also abundant.

Chief Towns.] Cabul, the capital and residence of the Shah, is on the river of the same name. It is a place of great trade, being resorted to by the Hindoos, Tartars, and even the Chinese. The population is estimated at 200,000.

Peshawur, 150 miles E. of Cabul, is situated on several small streams which fall into Cabul river a few miles north of the city. It is occasionally the residence of the king and court, and is inhabited by persons from all parts of the east. The population is es timated at 100,000.

Candahar, situated on the Helmond, in lat. 33° N. lon. 65° 30′ E. is a large town, well fortified, and standing on the great road between Persia and India, has a flourishing trade.

Herat is situated also on the high-road from Persia and Tartary to Hindoostan, and the route of all the caravans from time immemorial has passed through it; but it has also been on the route of all the invading armies, and has been often plundered and burnt. The king of Persia has recently sent an army against it. Ghizni, formerly the capital of a powerful empire extending from the river Ganges to the borders of Persia, has now a small poputation and scarcely retains a vestige of its former grandeur. Balk, a very ancient town on a branch of the Oxus, 250 miles N. E. of Herat, has 6,000 inhabitants.

Population. The population of the kingdom and its dependent territories, according to Elphinstone, is 14,000,000, of which number 4,300,000 are Afghans, 1,400,000 Belooches, 1,200,000 Tartars, 1,500,000 Tadschiks and Parsees, and 5,700,000 Hindoos. The Tadschiks are a mixture of Persians and Arabs, and constitute the settled population of Persia and of a great part of Cabulistan. The Parsees or Guebres are fire-worshippers, who in the seventh century were expelled from Persia, their original country, by the Mahometans, and found refuge in Cabulistan and Hindoostan, where they live in a very quiet, inoffensive manner, and have become quite wealthy by the industry and sagacity with which they prosecute commercial concerns.

Religion.] The Hindoos remain true to the religion of their native country. The Parsees have a religion of their own. They worship one supreme being, but reverence the sun, stars and fire as symbolical of him. Zoroaster is their law-giver and the Zendavesta their law-book. All the other classes of the population are Mahometans; the Afghans and Belooches are of the Soonny sect, but the Tadschiks are Schiites.

Government and Army.] The Afghans are the ruling people, and the khan of their principal tribe is the king of the whole country. The government, however, is by no means of that simple structure which is usual in Asiatic monarchies. Over the great towns, indeed, and the country in their immediate vicinity, the authority of the sovereign is direct and almost supreme, but the rest of the nation is divided into tribes, each under its own khan, who is nearly independent. Alliances are formed and

wars carried on by the different tribes between themselves, without any concern or interference of the sovereign. This form of government keeps every part of the country in a state of continuai tumult and ferment. The army of the king is estimated at 150,000 or 200,000 men, principally cavalry, but his ability to raise this number depends on the co-operation of the different tribes.

Character.] The Afghans are in general a stout, well made people, of a swarthy complexion, brave, generous and sincere. Hospitality is a virtue for which the nation is eminently distinguished. Not only a stranger, but the bitterest enemy, beneath the roof of an Afghan, is in perfect security. Yet with this courtesy and humanity, are combined almost universally habits of plunder and robbery. The extent of these practices varies among different tribes, and in those placed under the immediate eye of the sovereign they are much restrained; but in the heights of the Solimaun ridge of mountains the tribes are all robbers, and some of them little better than savages. Tadschiks are the most cultivated part of the population, and pay as much attention to literature as the same race in Persia.

The

BELOOCHISTAN.

Situation and Extent.] Beloochistan is bounded N. by Cabul E. by Hindoostan; S. by the Indian ocean; and W. by Persia. The area is estimated at 176,000 square miles.

Face of the Country.] Until the late visit of Mr. Pottinger this country had not been traversed by Europeans since the rash and perilous return of Alexander the Great. It appears to be covered with numerous rugged chains of mountains, separated from each other by sandy deserts. The mountains are very lofty, but do not bestow on the country their usual gift of fertilizing moisture. In a journey through the whole length of the country from east to west Mr. Pottinger never met a stream which would take a horse above the knee. The beds of mountain torrents are usually dry; but they are subject to the danger experienced by Alexander, of the water rushing down so suddenly and rapidly as to render escape difficult.

Inhabitants.] The number of the inhabitants is estimated at 3,000,000. They consist principally of two tribes, the Belooches ad the Brahooes; but there are also a considerable number of Hindoos and Parsees in the large towns. The Belooches are honorable robbers; plunder, on a small scale, being held by them