PERSIA. 



SITUATION AND EXTENT. 



Miles. Degrees. Sq. Miles, 



Length 1300 7 u l C 45 and 70 East loneritude. > . '^_^ 



£ j.i i^-rvr between < nc . , ,_ XT t , , b . , ^ 800,00Q. 

 Breadth 1050 3 £ 25 and 40 North latitude. 3 



Name. ...Persia, according to the poets, derived its name from 

 Perseus, the son of Jupiter and Danae. Less fabulous authors sup- 

 pose it derived from Paras, Pars, or Fars, which signify a horseman ; 

 the Persians and Parthians being always celebrated for their skill in 

 horsemanship. 



Boundaries Modern Persia is bounded by the mountains of 



Ararat, or Daghistan, which divide it from Circassia and Georgia, on 

 the north-west ; by the Caspian sea, which divides it from Russia, on 

 the north ; by the river Oxus, which divides it from Usbec Tartary, 

 on the north-east ; by India, on the east ; by the Indian ocean, and the 

 gulfs of Persia and Ormus, on the south ; and by Arabia and Turkey, 

 on the west. 



Divisions. ...This kingdom contains the following provinces : 



Provinces. Ancient IS ames Cliief Towns. 



Farsistan .... Persis, or Persia propria Shirauz 



Irac Agemi . . . Media Ispahan 



Aderbeitzan . . . Media Atropatena . . Tanris 



Khusistan .... Susiana Suster 



Mazanderan . . . Margiana Ferabad 



Khorasan .... Margiana and Aria . . Herat 



Ghilan Gela Reshd 



Sablestan .... Bactriana Bost 



Schirvan .... Albania Schamakie 



Segestan .... Arachosia Zareng 



Mekran Gedrosia Kidge 



Laristan Lar 



Kerman Caramania Kerman 



Mountains. ...These are Caucasus and Ararat, which are called 

 the mountains of Daghistan ; and the vast chain of mountains called 

 Taurus, and their divisions, which run through the middle of the 

 country from Natolia to India. 



Rivers. ...It has been observed, that no country, of so great an ex- 

 tent, has so few navigable rivers as Persia. The most considerable 

 are the Kur, anciently Cyrus ; and Aras, anciently Araxes ;. which 

 rise in or near the mountains of Ararat, and, joining their streams, 

 fell into the Caspian sea. Some small rivulets falling from the moun- 

 tains water the country ; but their streams are so inconsiderable, that 

 few or none of them can be navigated even by boats. The Oxus can 

 scarcely be called a Persian river, though it divides Persia from Usbec 

 Tartary. Persia has the river Indus on the east, and the Euphrates 

 and Tigris on the west. 



The want of rivers in Persia occasions a scarcity of water : but the 

 defect, where it prevails, is admirably well supplied by means of re- 

 servoirs, aqueducts, and canals. 



