'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.' [‎224] (287/905)

224
ASTER-ABAD.
[CHAP. X.
almost inaccessible mountains, which surround it like a
gigantic scarped wall. 1
Mushed city. The chief town. Mushed, or Maxad, 3 occupies elevated
ground near the river Habin. It has a citadel, in addition
to the exterior walls; these are flanked by towers, and sur
rounded by a ditch; and the town, together with the gardens,
country-houses, &c., about it, cover a space whose circum
ference is equal to about six leagues. 8 Its population was
estimated 4 at 100,000, but it now scarcely exceeds 50,000, 5
There are some fine colleges, karvanserais, and a spacious
public walk running east and west through the great square;
this last contains the gaudy building within which is the
famous shrine dedicated to Imam Riza. The people are
employed in the manufacture of sword-blades, knives, copper
utensils, velvets, silks, and cotton, and also in the preparation
of turquoise and other stones, which, together, furnish returns
for the caravan trade to Tartary, India, and the interior of
the kingdom itself.
tow^ofArter Province of Aster-abad lies northward of the
abad. Koh Caucasian, or Elburz range, from which it stretches
northward to the desert of Khiva, 6 and westward, from the
northern bend of the river Attruck 7 to the borders of Mazan-
deran, of which it may be said to form the continuation, but
on a much lower level than the plateau of Khorasan and
Persia. The southern border of Aster-abad abuts on the
Elburz, and the northern, which is swampy, chiefly on the
Caspian Sea: on the whole, it possesses a degree of beauty
and richness seldom equalled, and never surpassed. 8 The
chief town (Aster-abad) is clean and respectable; and the
view from the heights above, towards the Elburz on one side,
and the Caspian on the other, is strikingly rich ; but the air
is damp and noxious from exhalations. 9
^ Eraser's Journey into Khordsdn, pp. 53 and 54 of Appendix.
The Thus of the Persians.—Ogilby's Asia, p. 38.
° J bid ' 4 In 1673.—Tbid.
(! Lieutenant Con oily's Journey, Vol. I., p. 225. London, 1838.
" * n 380 , N - latitude - 7 In about 57° 55' E. longitude.
Eraser's Khordsdn, p. 620.
9 Eraser's Travels near the Caspian Sea, p. 11.