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CASVIN. 
which it gives its own name, in latitude 36° 20'. Its foundation 
is attributed to Sapor II., in commemoration of his escape from 
captivity, and subsequent victories over the Emperor Julian. 
Haroun al Raschid, with his wonted architectural magnificence, 
augmented the number of streets, and so beautified them with 
palaces, mosques, and gardens, that he acquired the fame of 
having constructed a second city. The amiable, but weak Shah 
Tliamas, when he abandoned Tabreez in the 955th year of the 
Hegira, made Casvin his royal residence. And Nadir Shah, 
after he had mounted the Persian throne on the neck of his 
abused master, increased its public buildings by the addition of 
an extensive palace. But, like the capital of Azerbijan, Casvin 
has more than once been nearly overwhelmed by earthquakes; 
so, that at present, little remains of its past grandeur, but broken 
masses of domes and towers, and long lines of mouldering walls. 
The existing town, however, is not unworthy a royal governor; 
having many fine edifices, and spacious gardens producing fruits 
of great variety and delicacy of flavour. 
On Monday, the 16th of March, we set forth with the rising 
sun, marching along the plain, which gradually widened to an 
extent of thirty miles. The ground was broken in several 
parts, by ranges of kanaughts ; a kind of aqueduct formed by deep 
wells, sunk in a regular line, but at a considerable distance from 
each other, and connected at the bottom by long subterraneous 
channels, through which the water passes from well to well; 
supplying hundreds of villages, which cover the sides of this 
extensive valley. Our course was along its southern side, where 
these villages, with their tributary wells, are very numerous; 
standing, as usual, amidst embattled mud walls and towers, and 
embellished with gardens. Nothing more distinctly marks the 
