'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎80] (127/905)

80
DIFFERENT CLIMATES OF IRA-N. [CHAP. IV.
Prevalence of the Duhistans of Fars, Moghistan, Mukran, and the central
deserts. The alluvial soil around the Khors and lakes of
central parts.
Trees and
shrubs.
Khuzistan, Babylonia, and the lower tract at the southern
extremity of the Caspian Sea, partake of the humid character.
In these districts lengthened inundations are succeeded by
damp fogs ; and sickness prevails in consequence, until a
powerful sun has perfected that luxuriant vegetation for
which they, and particularly those of Ghilan and Mazanderan,
are remarkable. The great plateau, extending from the
southern side of Azerbaijan through the finest portions of
'Irak, Fars, and Khorasan, enjoys the third, or temperate
climate. For though the heat of the sun, when reflected from
a soil destitute of verdure and timber, is considerable, this is
diminished by the breezes which from the mountains occa
sionally pass over the plains ; so that the evenings are agree
able and the nights serene. This tract includes the most
elevated portions of Affghanistan, 1 the Elburz, Taurus,
Zagros, and Bakhtiyari mountains, with nearly the whole
of Kurdistan. In these regions a low temperature prevails
in summer; and the snow, which caps the mountains at this
season, remains for months on the lower grounds, with a
degree of cold almost equal to that of a high northern latitude.
The vegetation naturally varies with the climate. In the
warm and humid districts are the forest and fruit trees of the
tropics, such as the cedar, cypress, olive, locust, date, orange,
lemon, fig, plantain, pomegranate, pistachio, &c.; as well as
the sugar-cane, cochineal, indigo, cotton, and assafoetida
plants; also the wild rose, poppy, gigantic anemone, and
other flowers.
In the temperate and cold climates are found nearly all
the European trees, shrubs, and vegetables. 2 Besides tama
risks, bebul, gum ammoniac, the benak, or spice-plant, wild
liquorice, &c.; and likewise a variety of pumpkins, melons,
gourds, cucumbers, &c.
1 Such as the Kohistan range, lying north of the Kdhul valley, and N.E.
of Baluchistdn ; likewise the Kojeh' Amram, the Soleimdn, and other ranges
bending towards the south.
2 The potato has been introduced lately by the British under Sir John
Campbell, K.C.H.