'A second journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, between the years 1810 and 1816. With a journal of the voyage by the Brazils and Bombay to the Persian Gulf. Together with an account of the proceedings of His Majesty's embassy under Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart. K.L.S. With two maps, and engravings from the designs of the author.' [‎375] (443/516)

ASTERABAD.
37.5
bay, and of nearly the whole plain of Asterabad, of several capes to the
westward, projecting into the Caspian Sea, of the mouth of the Gurgan
River, and of the commencement of the Dasht kipchak. As soon as we
had descended into the plain, on a level with the sea, we lost the vege
tation of a cold climate, and found orange and vine trees growing in the
wildest and rankest profusion. We rode for two hours on flat ground,
along paths sometimes not more than two feet wide through the jungle.
It is impossible to conceive a country that would be more easily de
fended against an invading enemy. On the track over which we tra^
veiled, little ground was cleared away for cultivation, and that little, we
observed, was entrenched within wooden fences. Their dried straw
was piled upon stacks, raised on high wooden platforms. What most
attracted our admiration was the cattle, which were of beautiful colours
and forms, of large size, and equal to those of Europe. The bulls,
most superb in their appearance, had the hump common to India.
The jungle continues unbroken to the very walls of Asterabad. About
a mile before we reached that place, we came upon the high road from
Mazanderan, which here is about fifteen yards broad, paved in some
parts, but in winter extremely difficult on account of its deep clay.
Asterabad is enclosed by a wall and turrets, and a ditch choked with
bushes and brambles. It may be above one fursung, or four miles in
circumference. The houses are all covered with baked tiles and shelving
roofs, and are constructed of sun and kiln burnt bricks, much inter
mixed with wood. At present the interior of the town looks like a large
straggling village, where here and there occurs a succession of con
nected streets, and where the houses are much interspersed with trees.
The great and almost continual rains have taught the inhabitants more
comforts than are seen in other Persian cities. Wherever the houses are
connected into streets a pavement intervenes; their doors and windows
are better contrived ; and the general structure of the buildings is more
solid and compact. But the whole bespeaks a great want of popula
tion and prosperity. They reckon only 1000 families resident in Aster
abad, of which few are in good circumstances. A great appearance of