'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎143v] (293/820)

266
JAJ—JAJ
apparently loop-holed. The mound is circular, or rather oval, about 140 by
100 to 120 yards in diameter at the top, with what has been a large moat
all round it at the bottom. There is no trace of any stone or brick work in
the mound. One silver coin found in the ruins was inscribed with the
name of the mint of Jajarm and dated 739 A.H. (1339 A.D.). The name
of the king could not be deciphered, but the coin showed that at that time
Jajarm was large enough to have a mint of its owm.
To the north of the village lies an old fort, said to have been destroyed
by Nadir, who was opposed here by the Garili Turks. Of these now only
a few families remain, and they have lost their Turk! and speak Persian.
To the south-east of the present village, a mass of broken bricks and
other ruins extend for a longer way. Outside the eastern gate, about half
a mile from the village, stands a domed brick building some thirty feet
square, containing the tomb of Khwaia ’Ali-bin-Muhammad Ziyar ; at
least that is the name given to the shrine ; there is no inscription of
any kind to testify to the name.
To the north of this mausoleum stands another ruined building in stone
and mortar, a square room, surrounded by cloisters. There are said to
have been water tanks on each side of it. In the' floor of the room is
a hole which leads down to a large whitewashed underground room, sup
posed to have been a sarddb for living in during the hot weather. This
vault is now full of bones and skulls and skeletons in cloth. The village
tradition is that an army was seized wdth cholera at Jajarm, and the
bodies were deposited in these vaults instead of being separately buried.
There are many low mounds all round, and these are said to contain simi
lar underground chambers.
South-east of the towm and as far as the northern Pul-i-Abrisham over
the Kal h-i-Mura, extends a Jcavlr w hich supplies Jajarm and the neighbour
hood with salt.
The plain of Jajarm is parched and arid in the extreme, and could,
under no circumstances, support a large population. The soil is, however,
alluvial and fertile, and well repays irrigation when practicable.
Jajarm is not well supplied with water, and has few gardens. It pos
sesses eight qandts, but these contain very little water. What water
there is, is at present mostly used in the growing of cotton for export to
Russia through the Armenian traders in Sabzaw : ar.
With the w r ater-supply at the present time available some barley and
wheat and a little rice are grown, but the crops raised are insufficient for
the inhabitants, who import largely from Shahrud and the Simalqan
districts ; supplying in exchange salt obtained from the water of the
Kal-i-Shur, a briny stream flowing through the plain to the south.
The present annual outturn of grain in Jajarm is estimated at 3,200
kharwdrs.
The silk industry which Jajarm formerly possessed has now died out.
Transport available for hire
in the district is
estimated as follows
Camels ..
..
.. 150
Mules and ponies
• • • •
.. 100
Donkeys..
• •
.. 200