‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎43v] (91/722)

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excellent sites for batteries to the north-west, north, and north-east It jg
closelv surrounded by buildings, and its water-supply could be cut off The
“ arg ” is the residence of the iNaib of Birjand,and contains a small detach
ment of infantry, six 9-pounder and one 18-pounder guns. To the west of^
the town, at the end of the spur, is situated the Kala Pani, which is a much
more respectable work. It is a square of about 100 yards, with walls 40
feet high, built on the river bank, which is scarped to the north, and the
approach to it all round is difficult and steep. If put into good repair no
doubt this place might offer a respectable resistance; but in 1875 there'was
cover close up to it, and the walls and loopholes were in such a state that
the former could not be manned. The fort is also commanded by a hill at '
about 1,500 yards to the east. The water-supply is not abundant, and it
precarious, being dependent on good rains. It is brought in karez from the
hills to the south. The chief manufactures of Bfrjand are namdahs felts
and woollen fabrics. The carpets, for which the locality has W been
famous, are almost entirely fabricated in the village of Dur'uksh, about 50
miles to the north-east of Birjand; also at a village called Lehdeh. These
carpets now, however, are held in less esteem ; as aniline dyes are used, and
cotton is mixed with the wool of which they are manufactured. There are
some very fair gunsmiths and ironsmiths in the town. Birjand could not
of itself furnish any supplies to an army ; but a few camels, a large num
ber of donkeys, and some horses might be procured. The adjoinino- valleys
aie.\cij fertile and abundantly cultivated, silk, cotton, opium, saffron and
grain being produced and exported {vide Kain district). Birjand has'con
siderable traffic with Karman, Yazd, Herat, Sistan, &c., and merchants from
several towns are to be found here. Caravans from Tehran bring Russian
goods, cast-iron pots, cotton goods, sugar, and tea. Caravans from Bandar
Abbas bring English goods, calico, crockery, iron, indigo, sheet copper, and
coarse cotton twist.
The site of Birjand is an important one, as roads lead from it to Herat,
^ abzawar, Anardara, Farah, Lash, and Sistan, and it could be supported
from lazd by 1 abbas, from Karman, and from the north by Tun, to all of
which places there are roads. The climate is very mild and equable during
“e year. {MacGregor, Goldsmid, Luan-Smith, Bellew, MacGregor,
BISH AGHAJ*—Lat. , Long. • Elev
A village m Khurasan on one of the roads from Sabzawar to Kuchan. It
contains 100 houses, and has good water and some supplies.— (JiacGV^r.)
BIWAJAN—Lat. , Long. • Elev
A high barren plateau in Khurasan, south of Mashhad. ' It is dotted with
, 01 , 01 , V ^ uc aie remarkable from the absence of gardens
or trees about them. &
The plain presents a gently undulating pasture covered surface, extending
oi many mi es eas am west, and forms a long narrow strip between the
deserts on either side. To the eastward it drops suddenly by a very broken
s i ace to the Sai]am district which presents a wide waste of red clay
hammocks do the westward Biwajan drops on to the plain of Mshapur
on the one hand, and the kavir of Yunasi on the other
Bi wajan is a buluk of the Mashhad district. The people are principally of
Persian descent with many Kara iTurk nomads. Its estimated popuktion is
The “ Five Trees 5 ’ (Turk).