"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [ظ‎‎٣‎٢‎٦] (٧٢٢/٦٥٩)

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to be the highest inhabited point in Persia. There are said to be seams
of coal here never worked. The village is built on the side of a bare
burnt-up, red hill without a sign of a green thing, tree, grass, or cultivation'
near. Its water-supply is one mile distant, and its fields likewise.—
{Napier, MacGregor.)
SHAH KtlH-I-PAl N* — Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in the province of Astarabad situated in a deep glen at the foot
of the high-serrated cliffs known as Shahkuh. Around the sides of the
hollow are terraced wheat-fields extending far up the mountain slope.
The village has 40 houses and ample supplies for a small party. The Kartam
flows through the valley. Both the Shahkuh villages bear the local name
of “ Shahkuh Gokshan.”— [MacGregor, Napier, Lovett.)
SHAHKUH-O-SAWAR— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
One of the subdivisions of Astarabad. It includes the whole tract of moun
tains north of Astarabad as far as Shahrud-o-Bustan. The principal villages
are Shahkuh, Bala, and Pain (100 houses), lying on that mountain at a height
of 7,500' and Tash (50'). It has now only seven inhabited villages, with
280 houses in all; but formerly there were 30, and its green valleys bear
ample evidence of former cultivation.— {Napier.)
SHAHMANDAN-— Lat\ 37° 15' 0", Long. 58° 26' 0"; Elev.
A village in northern Khurasan, about 35 miles south-east of Shirwan.—
{Intelligence Department, War Office.)
S HA Hit AH— La.t. , Long. ; Elev. / .
A village in the Mahawalat subdivision of the Turbat-i-Haidan district of
Khurasan.— {Bellew.)
SHAHR-I-BABAKf— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A town in Karman, 173 miles west of Karman. The town is surrounded
by a high wall and trench, and is about H miles in circuit, but does not
appear capable of defence, being commanded by two small hills one to
the north and the other to the south of the fort. There are many wardens
and extensive tracts of cultivation round this place. ^
This town had formerly been a very handsome city, though now o- 0 ne
entirely to ruin. The avenues into the town from all parts are planted on
either side with orange, lemon, mulberry, almond, walnut, cherry, and pome
granate trees; and the profusion of those fruits, besides grapes, apples,
apricots, peaches, nectarines, quinces, currants, plums, figs, and pears
produced here is so incredible, that the natives say that if all Persia, save
this district, were a desert, Shahr-i-Babak would supply it with fruit. The
gardens are said, notwithstanding, to be much fallen off; but still they far
surpass those of Isfahan or Shiraz in beauty and taste. The city has four
gates, from each of which long streets lead to a market-place in the centre
and divided it at right angles. The principal streets, as well as the market
place, have been covered the whole length with domes; but the greater part
of those over the streets have tumbled in, and what remain are in a tottering
^ ket ' plaCe is sti11 ver J Perfect, and is the
arrest m Persia. Shahr-i- Babak lies equidistant from Karman, Shiraz, and
* The “ Lower Shahkuh.” "" '
in ' eVer ‘ I ^ ■P-IT »P