ON THE CASPIAN. 
513 
that plain ; and there, after establishing his tyranny over Persia, 
in the blood of its Moullah Bashi or high priest, he placed the 
crown on his own head. 
The frontier line of Bussia continues from the ford of Eddi 
Boulak, along the northern bank of the Aras, as far as the rear 
of the hills of Muggari; and embracing the whole province of 
Kara Bagh, runs along the summits of the chain of black 
mountains which divide the Persian district of Nakshivan from 
the Bussian frontier ; and continuing the same alpine course, 
separates Erivan from Shamshadil and Kazak, the two latter 
districts being now the property of the Emperor. Thence the 
boundary keeps on, along the top of the heights to the north¬ 
west, forming an angle at the limiting point of Shuragil; and 
from thence, over the snowy head of Mount Aliguz, runs for¬ 
ward nearly due west, till it reaches the Arpachia river; which 
stream divides these new acquisitions of Bussia from Armenia, 
the territories of the Porte. 
Kara Bagh was reduced almost to desolation by the late war 
between the great Northern power and the Shah; but peace 
appearing to be now firmly established, and the province abso¬ 
lutely become a part of the conqueror’s empire, the fugitive 
natives are rapidly returning to their abandoned homes, and the 
country again puts on its usual face of fertility. The soil is 
rich j producing considerable quantities of corn, rice, and excel¬ 
lent pasturage, both in summer and winter. Baw silk is also 
another of its abundant productions. Shiska, its capital city, 
occupies the summit of a singularly situated, and curiously formed 
mountain, six miles in circumference, and perfectly inacces¬ 
sible on the eastern side. All these provinces, whether under 
the sway of one empire or another, have their own native chiefs ; 
3 u 
VOL. II. 
