'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.' [‎212] (273/905)

212
DISTRICT OF HAMADAN.
[chap. x.
and the slopes and valleys of the Elburz the other. Although
inferior to Fars in fertility and cultivation, 'Irak contains fine
plain/ 8 and valle y s an( i r i c h plains, with excellent pasturage, and con
siderable tracts of cultivated land. Amongst the valleys may
be noticed those of Hamadan, Khoonsar, Yezdikhast, and
Roach (S.W. of Ispahan), Kizil U'zen, &c.; and, among the
plains, the great tract extending from Ispahan to Teheran,
together with the productive regions of Komishah, Sultamyah,
Kashan, Kasvin, and Ahman-abad. The last district is on
the confines of Fars, and in it is situated, on the border line
between the two provinces, the singular castellated town of
Yezdikhast, occupying an isolated rock of about 600 yards
long by 50 wide. The town commands the opening of a
valley bearing the same name, which enters, like a deep
fissure, into the plain itself,
of Kama- Along the slopes of the Elwand, the ancient Orontes, is
the elevated district of Hamadan, with which Kurdistan may
be said to terminate. The capital is in a cultivated amphi
theatre, shaded with elms, poplars, firs, &c., at the foot of
the picturesque Elwand. This mountain is covered with
verdure almost to its snow-clad peak, and abounds with
springs, in addition to the fine stream 1 which traverses the
town. Arrow-headed inscriptions 2 mark the antiquity of a
site generally considered to be that of Ecbatana, the capital
of Media Magna. It boasts of the castle of Darius, the
sepulchres of Esther and Mordecai, with the tomb of the
philosopher and physician Avicenna. The spacious Maidan
(now a market), and the' once splendid mosque of Jumah, be
speak the grandeur of the city at a time anterior to its destruction
by Timur. It contains about 10,000 houses, 3 and the palace of
the governor, who has been usually a prince of the royal blood.
Komishah, Towards the eastern side of 'Irak is the town of Komi
shah, consisting of three separate villages, which, with their
inclosures and garden grounds, cover a considerable space.
The bazars are good, and, although much decayed, this place
still contains about 3000 souls.
1 The Narwend.-—Morier, p. 264. 8 Ibid., p. 267.
MS. Journal of Mr. A. A. Staunton, R.A., returning to England.
Hi