'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.' [‎137] (190/905)

CHAP. VII.]
SOIL, CLIMATE, ETC.
137
plain of Kassane, and the three productive valley plains run- Valleys and
ning north and south between the mountains of Sheki. The river8 •
northern valley has a width of about 20 miles, and extends
nearly 52 miles westward from Shirvan Proper, to the terri
tory of Elisooy, at the foot of Boz Tagh. 1 The central valley,
which is more elevated than the other, lies between the Boz
and Aghdib Taghs, and is about 45 miles long by 18
wide. The third constitutes the southern part of Sheki, and
has about 38 miles in length by 32 in width, between
the Kur and the foot of the Akhdib Tagh. 2 The Caspian
forms the eastern limits of these districts, the interior of
which are amply watered by the affluents of the Araxes, the
Kur, and other streams. Southward, the Bolgharon, after
separating a part ofTalish from Persia, runs eastward through
the plain of Moghan, till it is lost in a reedy tract near the
lower Araxes. 3 The other waters in this direction are the
Karaiar, the Ghorussan, the Odinabazar, the Lankan, &c.,
with their affluents. 4 Northward of the Araxes are the
Gokh-cha'i, the Gherdiman, the Akh-su (White Water), the
Aighry (Crooked Water), the Pirsaghate, the Touriane, and
the Demir Aparane. Nearly all the rivers run from the
north to the south, and, with the exceptions of the Aras and
Kur, are usually fordable after the spring months, 5
In general the soil of the plains consists of a black loam. Soil and
covered with rich pasture in the lower, and a varied luxuriant climate -
vegetation in the higher part, especially in the valleys lying
along the mountain slopes, one of which is expressively called
the Valley of Roses. 6 On ascending the high lands the soil
becomes clayey, and to this succeeds an unproductive chalk.
As in the preceding province, three kinds of climate are
experienced in Shirvan. That of the plains is suited to-^tro-
pical plants, such as indigo, sugar, &c.: but the winters being
1 Aperqu, &c., Tome lit., p. 323, &c.
8 Ibid., p. 324.
8 Ibid., Tome III., p. 184 to 191. 4 Ibid.
5 Ibid., pp. 45, 52, 337, 344, &c.
6 Calistan, near the ancient capital, which is fertilized by a fine stream.—
Ogilby's Asia, p. 10.
VOL. I. T