TEHERAN. 
309 
that the founder of the new capital had not had sages about him of 
sufficient wisdom, to advise his planting the royal pavilion there, 
rather than in this summer swamp. The proximity of the com¬ 
manding heights, as formerly they might have been called, since 
the introduction of modern art in defence and attack, need never 
have been an objection in a military view ; at least, they would be 
none under the present reign ; the Prince-governor of Azerbijan 
having brought the knowledge of European tactics to a practice 
which, never before, had been thought of in this country. 
Teheran is surrounded by a deep ditch, towers, and a mud- 
wall, embracing a circuit of eight thousand yards, with four 
gates : that to the south, leading to Ispahan; that to the north¬ 
west, to Tabreez ; the other two, look towards the hills in the cor¬ 
responding directions. They are very plain in their structure, 
with the exception of a few blue and green tiles, by way of orna¬ 
ment. At about two hundred yards in front of each gate stands a 
very large circular tower, protected by a fosse ; the earth of which 
must not only have assisted in elevating the body of the works, 
but has formed a glacis on its outer bank. These bulwarks might 
serve two very opposite purposes; first, to check the advance 
of an enemy ; and then, if carried, to be turned as a line of cir- 
cumvallation against the town ; egress from the gates being 
perfectly at the command of these out-works. With the excep¬ 
tion of Khoy, Tabreez, and Erivan, none of the embattled towns 
of Persia have embrasures in their walls ; supplying their means 
of’ defence with small loop-holes for musquetry, and bell-shaped 
projections, running along both towers and curtains a few feet 
from the top, to act as machicolations. 
It is generally supposed that the greatest part of this new 
city was erected from the ruins of Rev, which lie about five 
