THE PIGEON TOWERS. —KOOMISHAH. 
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of a village are discernible; and almost every one is equally 
silent, with this numerous colony of depopulated towers which 
mark the dun heaps of Koomishah. Formerly, great attention 
was paid to the nurturing and rearing of these birds ; their dung, 
I have been told, bringing in a yearly income (from the produce 
of one pigeon-house alone,) of nearly two hundred tomauns. 
Amongst other uses to which the small remains of this manure 
is applied, it is laid on the melon-beds of Ispahan ; and hence 
the great reputation of the melon of that district, for its unequalled 
flavour. Another use of the dung in older times, was to extract 
saltpetre for the purpose of making gunpowder; which, two 
centuries ago, had only just been put into the Persian list of 
warlike ammunition. 
We entered the walls of Koomishah after a march of five 
hours and a half; the distance from Mayar being estimated at 
five farsangs, about nineteen British miles. It is an extensive 
place, but forsaken, and tumbling to pieces in every direction. 
After passing through its lofty gate, we traversed a long line of 
empty bazars without meeting an individual. On the left of 
the deserted place of shops, we took up our quarters in a dirty, 
wretched caravansary, but the best in the city; and which was the 
work, in days of yore, of a certain public-spirited nobleman, 
named Jaffier Khan. The extremity of the valley through which 
we had travelled, nearly closed on the opposite mountains at the 
point where we found the town. Its dilapidated walls, towers, and 
houses, completely filled the chasm; which expanded again on 
the other side of the ruins, over whose mouldering hillocks you 
pass, as through a breach, to enter a broader vale. The ground 
in this valley, and more immediately near the town, is torn up 
by the spring torrents. Unchecked by the ingenuity of the 
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