330 



ISPAHAN. 



r iver Zaiiulcroud, which is crossed by several fine 

 bridges, the principal consisting of thirty-three arches, 

 each surmounted by three of tmaller size, with a co- 

 .1 gallery on each side for pedestrians. It originally 

 stretched three miles along the banks of the river, hav- 

 ing five main streets, the longest, intersected by others, 

 extending IviOO paces. Now it is restricted to nearly a 

 mile from north to south, by half a mile from east to 

 west ; the streets are wide, containing elegant and com- 

 modious houses, with fertile gardens producing much 

 fruit. This suburb was founded by a colony of Arme- 

 nians, brought hither by Shah Abbas from Julfa, a town 

 on the bunks of the Araxes. The Armenians being an 

 industrious people, the colony flourished surprisingly, 

 and at length consisted of 12,000 souls. But its mem- 

 bers, having become the subject of vexatious exactions, 

 gradually diminished in number. M. Olivier found 

 them reduced to 800 in 1796. There are still nine 

 churches, where weekly service is^>erfonv.e:l, with a con- 

 siderable body of clergy, and an archbishop at their head. 

 Formerly, 500 Roman Catholics constituted part of 

 the population of Ispahan. M. Olivier found but two 

 families, who occupied the convent of the Jesuits. Go- 

 vernment had long before seized on those of the Domi- 

 nicans and Carmelites ; and he did not learn any par- 

 ticulars regarding that of the Capuchins. 



.Numerous and important manufactures, highly pri- 

 eed in the east, are carried on in this city. That of 

 gold brocade is unrivalled. All the articles employed 

 in common life are fabricated, both for home con- 

 sumption, and for exportation. Several glass manufac- 

 tories produce what would do credit to European ar- 

 tists. The bazars are much more extensive, and ex- 

 hibit greater variety of goods than are seen in any other 

 part of the empire, and each is appropriated for those 

 of a particular kind. The finest muslins from the wes- 

 tern coast of the Indian peninsula, are sold at a wonder- 

 fully moderate rate ; and the price of pearls, diamonds, 

 and "other precious stones of the east, is lower than" in 

 Europe. Ispahan is the first commercial city of the Per- 

 sian dominions, and the emporium of foreign trade be- 

 tween them and India, Turkey, and Cabul. Several Eu- 

 ropean nations had factories here ; but the commotions 

 in the eighteenth century, occasioned them to be suc- 

 cessively withdrawn. Its relations with Russia continu- 

 ed later than those of the rest, and, we believe, were late- 

 Jy renewed. 



The population of this city was once very great. In 

 ihc time of Chardin, the only author who has preserved 

 a detailed account of it, those who calculated largely, 

 computed the number of inhabitants at 1,100,000; while 

 others estimated them at 600,000. In 1472, according 

 to Barbaro, they amounted to 150,000; but its splen- 

 dour arose, on the transference of the seat of govern- 

 ment hither by Shah Abbas the Great from Casbin 

 in the sixteenth century. Chardin was here for a 

 large portion of ten years in the seventeenth. There 

 is considerable discrepancy in the most modern cal- 

 culations. According to Olivier, the number had 

 fallen to 50,000 in 17<)6; but the restoration of con- 

 fidence and tranquillity raised it to 100,000 about the 

 year 1800, and at present it is supposed to exceed 

 200,000. Mr. Morier, indeed, rates the inhabitants at. 

 twice as many, because the second minister, a native of 

 the city, and long its governor, informed him that there 

 were 80,000 families; but he adds, that much is to be 

 allowed tor the exaggeration of a Persian. A few of 

 the ancient fire-worshippers, or Guebres, remain, who 

 are kept in a state of degradation. 



A grand causeway or avenue, called the Char-bagh, Ispahan, 

 or four gardens, extending 3000 paces in length by 10 ~V~' 

 in breadth, leads to the principal bridge across the river. 

 The gardens surrounding Ispahan, amNtheir fruits, are 

 highly celebrated for variety and excellence. They 

 are copiously watered by numerous channels, and con- 

 tain fine fountains and pavilions ; though many of 

 both have been destroyed. The garden of Azar Gerib 

 has always been appropriated to the culture of the fruits 

 most esteemed in Persia. It extends a mile in length, 

 and being formed on a declivity, is disposed in twelve 

 terraces, supported by walls, each divided into a great 

 number of squares, which are planted with fruit-trees, 

 all of the same species, arranged in quincunxes. The 

 whole district environing Ispahan and its gardens, is one 

 of the richest in Persia ; every species of grain, and all 

 edible herbs grow luxuriantly, cotton, tobacco, sesanum, 

 madder, and saffron, are abundant. Many of the vil- 

 lages, however, which enlivened the scene, and con- 

 tributed to the wealth of former ages, have now disap- 

 peared. 



The eastern authors are not agreed regarding the 

 origin and antiquity of Ispahan. It is affirmed by some, 

 that its earliest namewas Jayyor Cherestan; others think 

 that it was founded by Alexander the Great. Arta- 

 xerxes captured the city in the course of the third cen- . 

 tury, after which its history is obscured during several 

 ages. It surrendered to the great warrior Tamerlane 

 in the year 1386', immediately on his appearing before 

 the walls ; but in consequence of an insurrection, al- 

 most its whole inhabitants were devoted to destruction. 

 " I conquered the city of Ispahan," says that sove- 

 reign, in his Institutes, " and trusting in the people, I 

 delivered the castle into their hands, and the darogah 

 whom I placed over them, they slew, with 3000 of the 

 soldiers : and I also commanded that a general slaugh- 

 ter should be made of the people of Ispahan. 1 ' An 

 account was taken of 70,000 heads that were piled up in 

 pyramids, as a testimony of the cruel victor's resent- 

 ment. When the Afghans, a race from the countries 

 to the north-east of Persia, invaded the empire, an 

 army of 20,000 men took the suburbs of Julfa, and 

 invested Ispahan. Mahmoud their commander, hav- 

 ing made an unsuccessful assault on the city, com- 

 menced a strict blockade. All supplies were interrupt- 

 ed, and a terrible famine ensued. The people, how. 

 ever, willing for a time to submit to privations, became 

 impatient under their distresses; and surrounding the 

 harem, wherein the sovereign had secured himself, 

 demanded, but in vain, to be led against the enemy. 

 It is recorded, that horses and mules soon rose to so 

 high a price, that none excepting the king and the 

 wealthiest citizens could afford to purchase them for 

 subsistence : and the animals, hitherto deemed unclean 

 by the principles of the Mahometan religion, became 

 welcome food. As these were exhausted, leather and 

 the bark of trees were substituted, and at length the 

 famished inhabitants had recourse to human flesh ; many 

 of them killed each other, many were seen cutting pieces 

 from the dead bodies of those who had just expired ; 

 parents destroyed their children ; and some, to termi- 

 nate their calamities, became their own executioners. 

 The streets, the squares, and the royal gardens, were 

 covered with carcases; and the river Zainderoud was 

 so corrupted, that its waters were hardly fit for use. 

 At length the king, to avert farther evils, resolved to 

 abdicate the throne, and advancing to the camp of 

 Mahmoud, laid the ensigns of royalty at his feet. When 

 the Afghans took possession of the city, a large por- 



