"دليل بلاد فارس، الجزء III، وهو يتضمن محافظة فارس، لورستان، عربستان، خوزستان، يزد، كرمانشاه، أردلان، كردستان" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٦] (٦٨٦/٥٥٦)

529 34
SHI—SHI
Khan. Of the more modern mosques of Shiraz the Masjid-i-Vahll,
the only one built by that Prince, is the most beautiful.
Karim Khan began a college here, but never finished it ; there were
already six, one of the earliest of which (that founded by Imam Kuli
Khan) is still the most frequented. Another was added by Hashim,
father of Haji Ibrahim, the Vazlr of Fatah 'All Shah, and the Pish
Namaz and Mujtahid (Chief Priest of the city) built another. Of
the caravansarais the Kaisarlah Khana, built by Imam Kuli Khan,
and now in ruins, is the most ancient. There is another old structure,
which was restored from a state of great decay, and assumed the name
of its second founder, 'All Khan. There are five others, of which one
is called dabbaghan, or the dressers of sheep-skins for caps; another
rang-iizan, or dyers; another Hinduan, where the Hindus reside.
These were all built before the accession of Karim Khan, a date at
which the splendour of Shiraz revived. He added two within the
city, and one beyond the walls, and others have since been erected.
The same prince enriched his capital with three public baths, two
within and one without the town. Four have since been raised, but
there were already before his reign nineteen similar foundations.
There are several mausoleums * in Shiraz ; the most distinguished of
those without the walls is that of Hafiz; there is also beyond the city
that of Mir 'All, son of Mlrza Hamza, and grandson of the Imam Musa.
A spacious square and extensive, well-built, covered bazars occupy the
centre of the town. The latter are built in the form of a cross, and
are well supplied with goods imported from India, Constantinople, and
Russia, as well as from the west of Europe. The shops display good
specimens of work in gold and silver; also copper utensils, rose-water,
dried fruits, goat's hair, spices, tobacco, fine linen, and the silk and
cotton brocades, for which last this city was celebrated in the time of
Ibn Haukal; and there is still a mint in which kirans and the other
coins of the province are struck off.
The houses of Shiraz are, in general, small, and the streets narrow
and filthy. The great bazar, or market place, built by Karim Khan,
forms, however, a distinguished exception to this general remark..
It is in length about 500 yards by 120 yards in breadth, made of yellow
burnt brick, and arched at the top, having numerous skylights, which,
with its doors and windows, always admit sufficient light and air,
whilst the sun and rain are completely excluded. This bazar is allotted
to the different traders of the city, all of whom have their assigned
quarters, which they possess under strict regulations. The roof is
vaulted and 22 feet high, and it has a dome at the intersection of the
doors. The arch, or citadel, in which the Beglerbeg of Fars resides, is
a fortified square of 80 yards. The royal palace within is far from
being an elegant structure ; and the pillars of the Dlwan Khana, its *
greatest ornament, were removed by Agha Muhammad Khan to adorn
his palace at Tihran.
* The three most beautiful tombs are (as regards these domes) Shah Chiragh, conspi
cuous by its blue dome, Nur Muhammad, and Salad Allah-ud-dln Husain. (Dwrand.)