‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎43r] (90/722)

B1KARAN— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
One of a number of small hamlets known collectively as kalata or “ the
hamlets.^ It is in Khurasan on the old post road from Mashhad to Shah-
rud via Rahat-i-Gaz and Sharifabad.
Bikaran is 54 miles from Shahrud and 47 from Sharifabad. In the latter
distance no permanent habitations are met with, and no water.— (biewarl.)
B1LORI— Lat. , Long. ; Elev. '.
A village in the Kain buluk of the district of the same name in Khurasan.—•
(Be Hew.)
BIMURGH—Lat. 34 u 25' 2S' 7 , Long. 58° 59' 15"; Elev. ' [Lentz).
A large village in Khurasan, about 12 miles from Jumain, on the road to
Khaf. It is in the buluk Gunabad of Tabbas district.— [MacGregor, Khani-
/caff.)
BlNALtJH, on MIBABAD, or NISHApUR, or KHAWAR— Lat.
Long. ; Elev. h
A lofty range of mountains, being a continuation to the north-west of the
Nishapur and Khawar ranges. These mountains run north-west and south
east, forming the eastern boundary of the Nishapur districts, and divide it
from Mashhad. They also form the boundary between Bujnurd and Kuchan.
Binatuh is the local name. The highest portion of the ridge rising to
]0,0 ; J0 or 1 l,O()0 feet bears about north-east from the town of Nishapur. It
falls away on the eastern boundary of the district into the plain of Biwa-
jan. The drainage from these mountains supports almost the entire district
of Nishapur, ami the western base is studded with flourishing villages and
gardens. From the northern portion of the range a spur projects north-west
in which are the mines of turquoise near the village of Madan.— [JVajjier,
MacGregor, Belle tv.)
BIRIN JAN— Lat. , Long. ; Elev. '.
A small village of Khurasan, about 18 miles from Kam, on the road to’
Birjand. It lies at the foot of a high hill in the Rum valley in the Alghur
buluk of the Kam district. It has a watch-tower, gardens, and some
fields.— [Bellew.)
BlRJAND (Khurasan' —Lat. 32 u 53' 7", Long. 59° 10' 15'; Elev. 5,959'
[Lentz).
A town in Khurasan, about 100 miles south-east of Tun. It is of great
antiquity, and, though much decayed, is still a place of considerable import
ance. It has supplanted Kam as the seat of government of the Kainat
district since the days of Nadir Shah on account of its greater proximity to
Sistan and the Afghan frontier. Up to the time of Yar Muhammad's death
in 1851 Birjand was a dependency of Herat. It is situated principally on
the left bank of the Birjand river, which comes down from Bujd, and it
completely covers a low ridge which runs parallel with the stream. The
part on the left hank is enclosed by a low wall with numerous gates and
doors. A considerable number of buildings have also sprung up on the
right bank, so that the whole town would occupy a space of not less than
a mile by half a mile. The houses are all domed, and are generally of a
poor description, built of sun-dried brick. The streets are very narrow and
exceedingly tortuous. The number of houses is about 3,000 (Rozario says
6,000), and the population about 14,000 (Stewart). There is no covered
bazar, but there are several streets of pretty good shops. The “ arg, " or
citadel, is situated at the foot of the hill to the east, and is a huge square
enclosure with the usual bastions and towers. It has no importance as a
fortification, as it is in a dilapidated state, and is commanded from several