'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.' [‎138] (191/905)

138
MODERN AND ANCIENT CAPITALS. [CHAP. VII.
short, and the heat of summer proportionably great, the
marshes become very unwholesome. Notwithstanding a con
siderable degree of heat, the second climate (along the slopes
of the mountains) is healthy; and higher, in the third or
cold climate, where the snow remains till May, the inhabit
ants live to a considerable age. 1
Animals. Besides tigers, panthers, bears, wolves, boars, jackals, &c.,
Shirvan has an abundance of buffaloes, camels, arid other tame
animals, which, on the approach of summer, are removed with
the inhabitants to the fine pasture and wholesome air of the
mountains. These flocks, the fisheries, and agriculture, con
stitute the riches of the people. Their exports are equivalent
to an annual sum of about 268,500/., 2 and their imports to
nearly 232,900/. 3
Towns. Shirvan has but few permanent villages, and, besides
Shamahkee, the capital of the province, only two or three
towns, as Nookha, the capital of Sheki, and Salian. The
latter town occupies the extremity of the angle formed by the
bifurcation of the Araxes. It is small, but important, owing
to the sturgeon fishery. 4
shamahkee. Shamahkee occupies some elevated ground nearly in the
centre of Shirvan Proper, and it contains a population of
about 11,000 souls, who are partly Persians and Armenians,
but chiefly Tartars. The Russians reconstructed the city on
a regular plan; and it now includes the usual proportion of
bazaars, karvanserai's, baths, and churches, in addition to
2233 houses partly within the fortifications. 5
About 25 miles to the south-east are some ruins, which,
according to tradition, are those of the ancient capital. In
the time of the Shahs and Khans, Shamahkee was of much
1 Aper^u, &c., Tome III., p. 42 to 46.
2 Saffron, tobacco, madder, cotton, silk, cotton-wool, sugar, naphtha, fish,
cattle, and tanned leather.—Apercju, &c., Tome Hi., p. 91 to 133.
8 Salt, copper, trinkets, &c—Ibid.
4 This is in full activity at three periods of the year—the spring, summer,
and winter; and principally at the roadsteads of Bogii, Aonscha, and Los-
santin.
8 Apercju, &c., Tome III., p. 145, &c.