"دليل بلاد فارس. مجلد I" [و‎‎٣‎٦‎٢] (٨٢٠/٧٤٦)

TAB—TAB
697
Inside the walls of the town are two madrasehs or colleges, one of which
„ , is a fine large building of burnt brick. There is
Colleges and mosque. , , ® ® . • i i r, ■ - t
also a large mosque with a single lofty mmar ot
burnt brick, which is visible from a great distance.
„ , The inhabitants of Tabas itself number
Populat.on. 0! 000 and 8,COO.
The grain grown here is insufficient for the requirements of the town.
Produce, cultivation and and it is therefore imported in jaige quantities
supplies. from Dastgardun and G Una bad. The grain grown
is chiefly wheat and barley.
Opium, tobacco, and shatyatn, onion, beetroot, etc., are largely grown,
and there is an area of 2| square miles under cultivation near the town.
Fowls are very abundant, and comprise several rare and curious species.
Firewood has to be brought in from the hills and from the borders of
the kavir.
There is an immense quantity of date trees about, and the dates are very
good. Sweet and sour oranges grow in vast
Gardens and fruit. quantities and sell, the former at 5, and the
latter at 1 Iran the hundred. There are also several species of limes.
Amongst the fruits grown either here or in the vicinity are the mul
berry, walnut, apple, pear, water-melon, etc.
The water, which is good and very abundant, is principally obtained from
the hills to the east, by a stream which flows above
Water-supply. ground for a distance of several miles. On it, and
immediately above the town, are seven flour-mills worked by water. There
are also five qandt streams. During the rainy season a vast quantity of
water is caught by dams to the south-east of the town and employed in
watering the fields. Galindo is m agreement with this opinion, but several
previous travellers have stated that water is bad and scarce.
If such had ever been the'case, it is extremely improbable that Tabas
would have been selected as the site for a large town.
Camping-ground good to the west of the
Campmg-ground. town, where the water is not contaminated.
There is a considerable silk industry, and the
Industries. silkworm is largely cultivated ; but the material
is sent elsewhere to be worked up. . .
There are some workmen who are very skiliul in producing scissors,
tweezers, pincers, etc. . .
There is a Persian post office, and a fort-
Post office. nightly post to Meshed. The letters occupy
11 days in transit.
The climate of Tabas is mild; this is due«to its elevation 2,100 feet, and
also to its being in a valley where it is
Climate. sheltered by high hills from all sides except the
south and south-west winds. In summer, however, during the day the heat
is excessive, the thermometer often registering over 100°, but the nights are
always cool. , * i , • i
During the latter part of January and the early part of February, which
is about the coldest season of the year, the highest temperature recorded was
48 I. B. *- T