'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.' [‎209] (270/905)

CHAP. IX.]
ABU SHE'HR AND SHIRAZ.
209
Towards the north (according to Morier), Mader-i-Soliman
marks the tomb of Cyrus (son of Cambyses); and to the west
are the ruins of Kizla Sefid; 1 and, nearly in the centre,
are those of the ancient capital, Persepolis.
The modern places of some note are Darabgerd, Jarem, Abu Shehr.
Fasa, and Firoz-abad, all towards the eastern frontier;
while, on the western side, are Kazerun, Mayeen, Oujan,
and several smaller places. Abu Shehr (Bushire), the
second place and the principal seaport, stands upon a low,
sandy point, running N.W. on one side of a bay, and the
harbour, though defective, is the best on this coast; Con-
goon, Bander Delem, and Cogoon, being only suited for
boats. Towards the land side, which is low and marshy,
Bushire is defended by a loop-hooled wall, flanked by twelve
towers, and contains a population amounting to nearly
10,000 souls. The houses are of a very ordinary class, but
a few badgeers, or wind-towers, occasionally relieve the
sombre appearance of the place.
At 34 miles W. N.W. of this port are the rocky islands islands.
Karrak and Corgo, which are separated from each other by
a narrow channel. The former is inhabited by a few pilots
and fishermen, who are chiefly employed at Bushire, of
which the island is a dependency ; and it is of some import
ance on account of its good anchorage, and abundant supply
of excellent water.
Shiraz, the capital of the province, occupies the centre ofshinu.
a mountain basin, with rich gardens and fields extending
from the walls to the foot of the surrounding mountains.
It is constructed 2 of unburnt brick, and is surrounded by a
ditch and a wall, flanked by semicircular towers, which rise
some feet above the parapet. Within there is an ark, in
closed by very high walls. It has also several good karvan-
1 MS. Journal of the Right Honourable Sir R. Gordon. 1812.
2 The name is derived by some from Sheer (milk), and by others Irom
Sherab (grape), both of which are good, as well as abundant.— Herbert's
Travels into Africa, Persia, and Hindustdn. London, 1638: p. 134. Also
from Scbir, a lion, because the city consumes the whole produce of the sur
rounding country.