June 27, 1859.] ADDITIONAL NOTICES. 398 



their health in this climate. Wheat and barley are cultivated only in trifling 

 quantities, near the mountains; almost all that is required for consumption in 

 the towns is brought from other provinces. The poorer classes give their horses 

 rice in the husk, but those who can afford it procure barley, and rice-straw is 

 used instead of barley-straw. Almost every provision is dear when compared 

 with its value in other parts of Persia, except the few^ articles which are raised 

 in the province. 



The soil of Ghilan appears in some parts to be a rich vegetable stratum 

 on one of sandstones and pebbles ; it is probable, from this circumstance, and 

 from marine shells being frequently found underground, that at some period 

 the low country has been covered by the sea. 



The flora of the province is exceedingly rich. Amongst the trees the oak 

 and birch are in abundance, but the former is seldom of great girth. A 

 species of ver}^ thorny acacia grows also all over the country. The pome- 

 granate and other wild fruit-trees which abound must give to the forest a 

 charming appearance at certain seasons. 



I am informed that in the woods the tiger, panther, wild boar, jackal, and 

 marten are found, and probably there are many other animals which 1 was 

 not informed of. In the rivers is found the otter. 



There is a great variety of birds in the woods. The pheasant is very plen- 

 tiful, also the woodcock in its season ; and the lake and its reedy islands, 

 and the marshes, harbour myriads of wild-fowl of many kinds. In summer 

 the swarmg of gnats and flies render a residence in the country far from 

 agreeable. 



'J'he complaints common in Ghilan are fevers and agues, rheumatisms, 

 small-pox, leprosy, and other cutaneous diseases. The latter are said to have 

 been much more common a few years since than at present, a circumstance 

 which I have not heard accounted for. The dreadful plague which visited the 

 province some years ago may perhaps have purged the country of many of 

 these disorders by carrying off tliose who were afiQicted with them ; but this is 

 a mere conjecture. 



The road^ throughout Ghilan are perhaps the worst it is possible to con- 

 ceive ; those around Resht have been left in the most extraordinary state of 

 neglect and disorganization purposely and avowedly with the object of keeping 

 off invasion. It was once suggested to one of the governors by the agent of a 

 neighbouring power that great advantage would result from the repair of the 

 roads and cleansing of the bed of a small stream which flows near Resht. 

 Both these were undertaken, but so great was the jealousy of the people, that 

 the governor's conduct was immediately represented at court, and he was 

 reprimanded. Since then the roads and river have again become as imprac- 

 ticable as before, and the former can scarce be termed roads, as it is with the 

 utmost difficulty that any beast of burthen can pass them. They are, how- 

 ever, the best defences which such a country can possess whilst in the hands 

 of a semi-barbarons people, and they on one occasion many years since i)roved 

 the safety of the capital of Ghilan. A Russian force attempted to reach that 

 town by the Peeree Bazaar road. It would appear that with infinite difficulty 

 they succeeded in getting half-way between Peeree Bazaar and Resht, a dis- 

 tance of five or six miles, dragging along some artillery ; but here they encoun- 

 tered a brisk fire from irregular troo])8 sent against them. Entangled in the 

 thickets, and retarded by the wretchedness of the roads, the invaders were deli- 

 berately i)icked off by the ambush into which they had fallen ; and they are 

 said to have lost about 500 men, were forced to retreat, and have never since 

 repeated the attempt. 



The Caspian appears to be very shallow on tlie south-western side for many 

 furlongs from the shore, and I observed several single-masted vessels riding at 

 anchor securely at about 10 or 15 miles out at sea. The Russian Government 



