33 PERSIA. 



self; at least, sinee it has been inhabited by Mahommedans. It is af 

 square building, .jf a noble size, and has apartments for prayer on each 

 side ; in them are many inscriptions in the old Cufic character, which 

 of themselves denote the antiquity of the place. 



Provisions of all kinds are very cheap in this city ; and the neigh- 

 bouring mountains affording an ample supply of snow throughout the 

 year, the meanest artificer of Shirauz may have his water and fruits 

 cooled without any expense worthy consideration. This snow being 

 gathered on the tops of the mountains, and brought in carts to the city, 

 is sold in the markets. The price of provisions is reguiated in Shi- 

 rauz, with the greatest exactness, by the d roga, or judge of the police, 

 who sets a fixed price upon every article ; and no shop-keeper dares 

 to demand more, under the severe penalty of losing his nose and ears. 



The police in Shirauz, as Avell as all over Persia, is very strict. At 

 sunset, the gates of the city are shut : no person whatever is. permit- 

 ted either to come in or go out during the night ; the keys of the dif- 

 ferent gates being always sent to the hakim or governor, and remaining 

 with him until morning. During the night, three tablas or drums, are 

 beaten at three different times ; the first at eight o'clock, the second 

 at nine, and the third at haif past ten. \fter the third tubla has sound- 

 ed, all persons whatsoever found in the streets by the daroga, or judge 

 of the police, or by any of his people, are instantly taken up, and con- 

 veyed to a place of confinement, where they are detained until next 

 morning, when they are carried before the hakim ; and if they cannot 

 give a very good account of themselves, are punished, either by the 

 bastinado or a fine. 



The houses of men of quality in Persia are in the same taste with 

 those of the Asiatic Turks already described. They are seldom 

 above one story high, built of bricks, with flat roofs for walking on, 

 and thick walls. The hall is arched, the doors are clumsy and narrow, 

 and the rooms have no communication but with the hall ; the kitchens 

 and office-houses being built apart. Few of them have chimnies, but 

 a round hole in the middle of the room. Their furniture chiefly 

 consists of carpets, and their beds are two thick cotton quilts, which 

 serve them likewise as coverlets, with carpets under them. 



Tauris, or Tebriz, the chief city of Aderbeitzan, was formerly the 

 capital of Persia, and is said to contain 300 caravanserais, or inns, and 

 250 mosques. The number of inhabitants was estimated by Chardin 

 at 550,000, besides a multitude of strangers, who resorted thither 

 from all parts of Asia. The bazars, or market-places, are particularly 

 grand and spacious ; and it is said that the great square has held 

 30,000 men drawn up in order of battle. The finest Persian turbans 

 are made in this city ; and i\ts trade, which is very great in cloth, cot- 

 ton, silks, gold and silver brocades, and shagreen leather, extends 

 not only over all Persia, but into Turkey, Russia, Tartary, and the 

 East Indies. 



The cities of Ormus and Gombroon, on the narrow part of the 

 Persian Gulf, were formerly places of great commerce and impor- 

 tance. The English, and other Europeans, have factories at Gom- 

 broon, where they trade with the Persians, Arabians, Banyans, Arme- 

 nians, Turks, and Tartars, who come hither with the caravans, which 

 set out from various inland cities of Asia, under the convoy of guards. 



Manufactures and commerce.. ..The Persians equal, if not ex- 

 ceed, all the manufacturers in the world in silk, woollen, mohair, car- 

 pets, and leather. Their works in these joi o fancy, taste, and elegance 



