‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎201v] (409/722)

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by banks, formed of tbe mud thrown out of them. The plain of Persepolis
and the belt of country on either side of the river Zaindahrud, Isfahan, are
so cut up in this way as to preclude even infantry moving freely, much less
cavahy^oi ^uns^Q^ntry £ences to fields are unknown, though walled gar
dens surround most villages from Isfahan northwards, but are less common
in the south.
Tihran and Khoi are the only two cities of Persia that can he said to be
fortified/ In 1872, the first had been newly sur-
Fortified towns. rounded by a bastioned enceinte of 58 fronts parallel
to the old rampart (at about a mile distant from it), which is now
nearly all pulled down. The trace of this new enceinte is \ auban s first
system but without outworks of any sort, and without masonry revet
ments/ The interior is commanded by the slopes to the north; but it is
doubtful whether Jieldguns could reach the town.
The scanty rainfall and the tenacious character of the soil, a gravelly clay,
permit the unrevetted scarp and counterscarp to remain perpendicular or
nearly so Tihran is thus safe against a coup de main ; but an enemy could
probably reduce the town in U hours by cutting off the water-supply
The ‘ aro> ’ or citadels, in which stands the Shah’s palace, the arsenal, and
other government buildings, is on the north of the old town and is sur
rounded by a high mud wall, with flanking towers at intervals. Most of
the ditch, however, has been filkd up. The arsenal contains a huge but
unknown number of guns, principally brass. Those now made are bronze
muzzle-loading 12-pr. fieldpieces, rifled on the French (Belgium . )
system, and throwing lead-coated projectiles. There is also a gun-carriage
harness and percussion cap manufactory attached to the arsenal, but outside
the citadel.
Breech-loading rifles also are b ung made under the superintendence of a
European.
Khoi has a double enceinte —the inner a simple curtain wall, the outer
said to be of, European tracing; date of construction unknown, beemed
incapable of more than a few hours’ resistance to modern heldguns. Most
other towns in Persia of any size have been fortified with a curtain wall,
dry ditch, and flanking towers; but, with the exception of Mashhad and
Karman, the ramparts of all the large cities have been allowed to fall into
decay.
About half the villages in Persia have been similarly fortified-—sometimes
without apparent object, at others for protection against raids by Turkumans
or Baluchis, or against plunderers of the wandering tribes.
Built of mud and with flat, mud-terraced roofs (thus impossible to set on
fire), the open villages are nearly, if not quite, as capable of defence by
regular troops as the fortified ones. The caravansarais, which are found
along the principal roads, are also capable of offering serious resistance.
They consist generally of one or more quadrangles of solid masonry, flanked
by towers at the angles. The fact of the towers opening, not on the interior
court, but on dark semi-subterranean stables, would make it advisable to
breach the walls between the towers, instead of at the angles.
Posthouses, or chaparkhanas, are caranvansarais in miniature, built of sun'
dried brick or mud.