'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.' [‎214] (277/905)

214
ISPAHAN.
[CHAP. X.
possessions of the Kajar monarchs, Teheran, which is in
their vicinity, has been made the seat of government.
Ispahan. Ispahan, the former capital, occupies the central part of an
oval plain, which is inclosed hy a range of mountains, pre
senting a singularly serrated outline; the lowest part is on
the N.E., and the highest on the S.W. side of the city.
From an elevated pass leading through the rugged and rocky
belt on the latter side, there is obtained a fine view of this
mountain basin, whose circumference is about 30 miles. 1 It
is well watered by the tortuous Zeud-rud, which flows
through it rather southward of its centre.
Description of Not far from the right bank are the extensive Armenian
the city; suburbs, gardens, &c., of Julfa; and, on the opposite side of
the stream, abutting upon four noble bridges, is the city
itself; which, although of a heavy brown colour, owing to
the materials with which it is built, is still one of the most
striking in the east. It has two citadels, and contains the
splendid Chehel el Sittoon, with six other attractive palaces,
having gardens laid out with canals, and walks shaded by
stately chinars. Besides these, there are numerous khans,
medresses, mosques, &c., with public walks leading up to
them : the great Mai'dan is 490 yards long by 166 broad.
Numerous light arches and arabesque ornaments adorn the
public rooms of the different houses, while the mosques,
medresses, &c., are surmounted by lofty minarehs. and gilded
domes.
The city is backed by rugged mountains, rising like a
gigantic wall beyond the surrounding gardens, in which
numerous pigeon towers are conspicuous; but on entering it
the pleasing illusion produced by the view from the exterior
vanishes, and ruinous houses, untenanted palaces and colleges,
with half-occupied karvanserais, the consequences resulting
from the removal of the v court, meet the eye in every quarter;
its bazars. i n f ac t 3 the bazars alone show some signs of the activity
required to supply the ordinary wants of a great city.
They are either crowned by cupolas, or covered with slight
1 A distance of about 12 miles separates the mountains on the western side
from those of the eastern: the shorter diameter being about eight miles.