‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎172r] (348/722)

MARtJSK —Lat. , Long. ; Elev. f .
A village in the buldk of the same name in the district of Nishapdr, Khu
rasan, inhabited by the thieving tribe of Amanlu Kurds. It is 21 miles from
the town of Nishapur and 14 miles north from the turquoise mines of
Madan. It is a large village, with good water and supplies procurable.
Near here is a salt mine. Besides the usual grain crops, some rice is pro
duced. The estimated revenue of Marusk is 1,000 tumans, and the esti
mated population 400.— [Napier, MacGregor.)
MASHHAD (City)—Lat. 36° 17'13", Long. 59° 36' 15"; Elev„ 3,104
[Lemm).
A city, the capital of Khurasan, situated near the east frontier of that
province, 472 miles east of Tihran, 201 miles north-west of Herat, 696
miles north-east of Ispahan by Tihran.
It is situated on a plain, and is of irregular shape, about 6 miles in
circumference, surrounded by walls of mud. Eastwick rode round the walls,
starting from the north or Idgah gate. Immediately outside this he found
two or three fine peach gardens ; and this he considers the weakest part of
the town, and where an attack would succeed most easily. After a quarter-
of-a-mile there is a branch road to the right, which goes round the city,
while the main road goes on straight to two curious rocky hills, called
Kuhsang, which form the end of a spur from the line of mountains on the
north. These are about l^ miles in a direct line north-east of the citadel
of Mashhad. At 100 yards from the branch road above mentioned is the
citadel gate of the city. The ground here is very rough, and the ditch
broad and 40 feet deep; and it could be filled with water from a reservoir
and watercourses further on. About 100 yards from the citadel gate, the
north wall of the city ends, and the east begins at right angles to it. At
this angle is the citadel, and the wall is well built up to the height of 25
feet. A wide extent of ground stretches out before it, on which private
individuals are forbidden to build ; and, since the last revolt in Khurasan, the
fort has been put into repair. The east wall zigzags out to the east, and
after a few hundred yards passes a reservoir and an excellent spring of
water, called Sar-ab; and here, at a quarter-of-a-mile from the north-east
an Me'of the city wall, is the Sar-ab gate. A little further on the wall begins
to turn towards the west; and after another quarter-of-a-mile the south wall
may be said to begin. Following this for a mile, we come to the Bala
Kbiaban gate, opposite to the entrance into the mosque of Imam Riza.
The ground is very rough all along this part, and the rillepits are still to be
see n ^from which the citizens used to fire when besieged by the Hissamtus
Sul tan at. In half-a-mile more the Naugun gate is reached ; and a little
before this the west wall begins and runs on for three-quarters of a mile;
after which the north wall begins and continues for three-quarters of a mile
to the Pain Khiaban gate, and thence a quarter-of-a-mile takes one to the
gate of Idgah.
The city thus has six gates, mb.—the Pain Khiaban, the Idgah, and citadel
entrance on the north face; the Sar-ab on the east; the Bala Khiaban on the
south ; and the Naugun near the south-west angle. There is also a dry ditch
all round the place. . n • x. j. c • -rn-r,.
The mud wall or rampart is kept in a very fair state of re P air - It is four
feet thick at the top, and about nine feet at the bottom. The whole is
topped with a parapet a foot thick, but so carelessly made that the
loopholes are often six feet high above the top of the rampart. All beyond
38