Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

traveller; and whole caravans are sometimes buried by moving clouds of sand raised by the wind. In almost every part of the country they suffer for want of water.

5. SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. The soil, wherever it is well watered, exhibits an uncommon fertility, but where this is not the case it degenerates into a waste, affording barely a scanty support to a few wild animals and the camels of the wandering Arabs. The most fertile district is Yemen or Arabia Felix, which in many parts is cultivated like a garden. The principal productions are coffee, myrrh, aloes, frankincense, pepper, and tropical fruits.

6. CHIEF TOWNS. Mecca, celebrated as the birth-place of Mohammed, is situated in a dry, barren, and rocky country 40 miles inland from the Red Sea, in lat. 21° 18' N. It is entirely supported by the concourse of pilgrims from every part of the Mohammedan world. The chief ornament of Mecca is the famous temple, in the interior of which is the Kaaba or house of the prophet, a plain square building built of stone. The most sacred relic in the Kaaba is the stone said to have been brought by the angel Gabriel to form the foundation of the edifice. The grand ceremony through which pilgrims pass is that of going seven times round the Kaaba, reciting verses and psalms in honor of God and the prophet, and kissing each time the sacred stone. They are then conducted to the well of Zemzem, situated in the same part of the temple, where they take large draughts, and undergo a thorough ablution in its holy waters. Another ceremony, considered as of equal virtue, is the pilgrimage to Mount Arafat, situated about 30 miles to the south of the city. The population of Mecca was formerly estimated at 100,000, but is now reduced to 16,000 or 18,000, the resort of pilgrims within a few years having greatly diminished. Jidda on the Red Sea serves as the port of Mecca.

Medina, 176 miles north of Mecca, is celebrated as containing the tomb of Mohammed, around which 300 silver lamps are kept continually burning. The population is 6,000. Jambo on the Red Sea is the port of Medina.

Mocha, situated near the southern extremity of Arabia, is the principal port on the Red Sea, and the channel through which almost all the intercourse of Europe with this part of the world is carried on. The great article of export is coffee, which is celebrated as the finest in the world. The population is estimated at 5,000.

Sana, the capital of Yemen, is a handsome city situated 128 miles northnortheast of Mocha.

Mascat, the principal port on the eastern coast, carries on an extensive trade with the British settlements in India, the Malay peninsula, the Red Sea, and the eastern coast of Africa. It is under the government of an independent chief. The Arabs of Mascat are considered fine sailors.

7. INHABITANTS, &c. The Arabs are pastoral, as Bedouins, or they live in towns. They have dark hair and black eyes, and they are well formed and active though lean. They permit their beards to grow to their full length. The Arabs are spread over Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Africa. The dress of the rich resembles somewhat that of Turks; being loose and flowing. The chief peculiarity is the number of caps, which sometimes amounts to 15. The poor, however, wear but two, and their chief clothing is a linen cloth round the middle and a woolen one over the shoulders. This also serves them for the covering at night; though sometimes they sleep in bags, for protection from insects. The poor wear sandals; the rich, slippers. The Bedouins wear no caps, but only a hood in their cloak. The Arabian females stain their eyelids with a dark substance, and their cheeks and hands with a yellow color. The language is the Arabic, but it is not spoken in its ancient purity. Arabic of the Koran is, at Mecca, a dead language. The buildings in the cities have terraced roofs, but they have no beauty. The dwellings of the poor are but huts, with mats covering the floors. The Bedouins dwell in

tents.

In food the Arabs are temperate in the extreme. The poor satisfy

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

themselves with dates, &c, or a daily meal of hard bread, with milk, butter, or oil. Little animal food is eaten, and the use of wine or spirits is not common; lizards and locusts are sometimes eaten. Coffee is generally used, and tobacco also in smoking. A species of hemp is also smoked, for its intoxicating qualities. A diet so simple can create few diseases, and the Arabs generally enjoy perfect health. The character of the Arabs is founded upon that of Ishmael. In the desert they are robbers, and in cities cheating is a substitute for robbery. They are however very courteous and polite, and hospitable to a proverb. They will set their last loaf before a stranger. It is a bitter sarcasm for one tribe to use against another, 'that the men know not how to give, or the women to deny.' It is however seldom founded in truth. All go armed, and they are probably but little changed since the time of Mohammed, or an earlier period. They are revengeful and visit offences with full retaliation; often upon the innocent, if of the same family or tribe with the offender.

The only safe way of travelling in Arabia, as in other countries of Asia and Africa, is in caravans. A caravan is a large association of merchants or pilgrims, who unite for mutual aid and protection to themselves and their camels and goods. The transportation of goods in these countries though slow is cheap, compared with European prices. The average weight which camels are made to carry is 600 lbs. The Egyptian caravans travel with a wide front, many others travel in a line. The halt of the pilgrim caravans to Mecca, is by day, and they travel only by night. There are many of these even from Persia and Morocco. The dangers of the desert are such, that in many places the route is indicated by the bones of dead camels. The caravans are under the directions of a chief, though from their discordant materials they are, when attacked, in a state of confusion, each individual acting for himself and protecting his own property. The predatory tribes on the route sometimes plunder the whole caravan, and at others cut off parts of it. At the halts there is much social intercourse and amusement, the merchants or others visiting and entertaining each other. Caravans, however, since the extension of navigation, and the decline of the Mohammedan spirit, have been much curtailed both in magnitude and show. The pace of the camel when travelling is three miles an hour; this is so exact that distances are computed by time; a march of six hours' being equivalent to 18 miles.

The education of few, exceeds the reading of the Koran; and the religion of all is bounded by its doctrines. They are intolerant Mohammedans, but chiefly of the reformed sect of Wehabees. This seems to be nearly a pure theism; the founder inculcated great simplicity of life and subverted the reverence for prophets and saints. The sect are so strict in their simplicity of life that they will not drink even coffee. The government is what it has been from remote ages, patriarchal. The shieks are the chiefs of tribes, but their authority is limited, for the Arabs have a high spirit of freedom. In the cities a stronger government obtains, and the Sheriffe of Mecca, or Imam of Mascat are more despotic.

8. HISTORY. Arabia is famous in history for giving birth to the Mohammedan religion. Mohammed, its founder, was born at Mecca in 569. From the leader of a sect he became a powerful military chieftain and was proclaimed king at Medina in 627. He conquered a great part of Arabia and Syria; and the Khalifs his successors established their religion and dominion in many countries of Asia, Africa and Europe. The Turks afterwards became masters of a great part of Arabia, and the chiefs who now rule the different provinces of the country are nominally under the authority of the Porte.

[merged small][ocr errors]

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. Persia is bounded by the Caspian Sea, on the north; by the river Oxus or Gihoun on the northeast; by India, on the east; by the Indian Ocean, and the gulfs of Persia and Ormus, on the south; and by the Turkish territories on the west. It extends from 25 to 38° N. lat., and from 46° to 66° E. lon., and contains 525,000 square miles.

2. MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS. Ararat, Caucasus, and the vast chain of mountains called Taurus, and their divisions run through the middle of the country from Asia Minor to India. No country, of so great an extent, has so few navigable rivers as Persia. The most considerable are the Kur, anciently Cyrus; and Aras, formerly Araxes; which rise in or near the mountain of Ararat, and, joining their streams, fall into the Caspian Sea. Some rivulets falling from the mountains water the country; but their streams are so inconsiderable, that few of them can be navigated even by boats. In consequence of this deficiency, water is scarce; but the defect, where it prevails, is admirably supplied by means of reservoirs, aqueducts, and canals.

3. CLIMATE. Those parts of Persia which border upon the mountains near the Caspian Sea are in general cold, as those heights are commonly covered with snow. In the midland provinces of Persia, the air is serene, pure, and exhilarating; but, in the southern provinces, it is hot, and communicates noxious blasts, which are sometimes mortal.

4. SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS. The soil is far from being luxuriant toward Tartary and the Caspian Sea; but with cultivation it might produce abundance of corn and fruit. To the south of mount Taurus, the country abounds in corn, fruit, wine, and the other necessaries and luxuries of life. It affords oil in plenty, senna, rhubarb, and the finest drugs. Great quantities of excellent silk are likewise produced in this country; and the Gulf of Bassora formerly furnished great part of Europe and Asia with very fine pearls. Some parts, near Ispahan especially, produce almost all the flowers that are valued in Europe; and from some of them, particularly roses, they extract waters of a salubrious and odorific kind, which form a gainful commodity in trade. Few places produce the necessaries of life in greater abundance and perfection than Shiraz; and a more delightful spot in nature can scarcely be conceived, than the vale in which it is situated, either for the salubrity of the air, or for the profusion of everything necessary to render life comfortable and agreeable. The fields yield plenty of rice, wheat, and barley, which they generally begin to reap in May, and by the middle of July the harvest is completed. Most of the European fruits are produced here and many of them are superior in size and flavor to what can be raised in Europe, particularly the apricot, grape, and pomegranate. The last is good to a proverb; the Persians, in their pompous style, call it the fruit of Paradise.

5. MINERALS. Persia contains mines of iron, copper, lead, and, above all, turkois-stones, which are found in Khorasan. Sulphur, saltpetre, and antimony, are found in the mountains. Quarries of red, white, and black marble, have also been discovered near Taurus.

6. CITIES. Teheran, in the northwestern part of the province of Irak, is now considered as the capital of Persia. It is about four miles in circumference, situated in a dreary plain, which is only partially cultivated. It is furnished with a citadel, and surrounded by a strong wall; but it is not a handsome or well built town. Within the fortress is the palace, which displays no external magnificence. So excessive is the heat of the summer in this neighborhood, that the king and the greater part of the inhabitants annually leave it for two or three months. The population is then under 15,000; but, during the rest of the year, it amounts to 50,000,

[blocks in formation]

-PERSIA

[ocr errors]

Ispahan, formerly the Persian capital, is seated on a fine plain, within a mile of the river Zenderoud. It contains some few squares and noble houses; but the streets are neither wide nor regular, and the town in general is wretchedly built. It bears evident marks of neglect; yet it is not so deserted, as to have only a small population; for it is still occupied by about 55,000 persons. The bazars are so extensive that you may walk for two or three miles under the shelter which they afford. The best manufactures of the place are those of silk and cotton: the latter stuff resembles nankin, and is worn by all ranks, from the king to the peasant. The chief ornament of the town is the Palace of Forty Pillars, called also the Persian Versailles. The exhaustless profusion of its splendid materials, may be said to reflect, not merely their own golden or crystal lights on each other, but all the variegated colors of the garsiderae aden; so that the whole surface seems formed of polished silver and mother-ofenor pearl, set with precious stones. In short, the scene seems almost to realize Caspian eastern poet's dream, or some magic vision. The roof is sustained by a

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

double range of columns, each being forty feet high, and shooting up from the united backs of four lions of white marble, while their shafts are covered with arabesque patterns and foliage. The ceiling is adorned with the representations of flowers and animals, in gold, silver, and painting, amidst hundreds of dra intermingling compartments of glittering mirrors.

Shiraz, lies about 225 miles to the southeast of Ispahan. It is an open the are town, and its neighborhood is inexpressibly rich and beautiful. This town has a college for the study of eastern learning, and is adorned by many noble buildings; but its streets are narrow and inconvenient; the houses in general fare mean and dirty, and not above 4000 of them are inhabited, in which, perhaps, about 20,000 persons reside. It has some good bazars and caravanserais; that distinguished by the appellation of the Vakeel's bazar (so called from its being built by Kerim Khan) is the handsomest. The city also contains many fine mosques, particularly that built by Kerim. This is of a square form; in the centre is a stone reservoir of water, made for performing the necessary ablutions, previous to prayer; on the four sides of the building are arched apartments allotted for devotion, some of the fronts of which are covered with China tiles.

Tabriz, stands on a plain bounded by mountains, which, though barren, recede into a well-cultivated vale. In the seventeenth century it was considered as the second city in Persia; but, if it had not become the principal residence of the heir apparent of the Persian crown, it would by this time have declined into insignificance. He has improved the fortifications, formed a great arsenal, and built a palace for himself; he encourages the industry of the inhabitants, and promotes the European arts and inventions. The population of the town is about 45,000.

Ardebil, was formerly a large and flourishing town; but it has now only 4000 inhabitants, though it possesses a great object of Moslem veneration, namely, the magnificent mausoleum of that sanctified sheik who was the founder of the Sefi family.

Meshed, though the capital of Khorasan, is not so populous or flourishing as Herat, having only about 40,000 inhabitants. Its manufactures (says Mr Fraser) are not extensive; but it still retains its former celebrity for some articles. Its velvets are considered as the best in Persia; but its silks and cottons are less famous. Sword-blades of good temper are here fabricated, their excellence being derived, it is said, from the skill of many descendants of a colony of artisans, transplanted from Damascus to this province by Timour. The city is built of sun-dried bricks: the houses in general make a wretched appearance, and the apartments are meanly furnished; and a great part of the city is in ruins. Yet some of the public buildings have an air of magnificence., 7. REVENUES. The king claims one third of the cattle, corn, and fruit, of his subjects, and likewise a third of silk and cotton. No persons, of whatever

[graphic]

CHAPTER CV.

1. BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT. Persia i the north; by the river Oxus or Gihoun o east; by the Indian Ocean, and the gulfs of and by the Turkish territories on the west lat., and from 46° to 660 E. lon., and conta 2. MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS. Ararat, mountains called Taurus, and their divisi country from Asia Minor to India. No cou few navigable rivers as Persia. The most c Cyrus; and Aras, formerly Araxes; which Ararat, and, joining their streams, fall into falling from the mountains water the countr siderable, that few of them can be navigated of this deficiency, water is scarce; but the rably supplied by means of reservoirs, aquedu

3. CLIMATE. Those parts of Persia whic the Caspian Sea are in general cold, as thos with snow. In the midland provinces of Pe exhilarating; but, in the southern provinces, ious blasts, which are sometimes mortal.

4. SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS. The so toward Tartary and the Caspian Sea; but w abundance of corn and fruit. To the south abounds in corn, fruit, wine, and the other It affords oil in plenty, senna, rhubarb, and th of excellent silk are likewise produced in this c formerly furnished great part of Europe an Some parts, near Ispahan especially, produce valued in Europe; and from some of them, waters of a salubrious and odorific kind, whic trade. Few places produce the necessaries of perfection than Shiraz; and a more delightful conceived, than the vale in which it is situated air, or for the profusion of everything necessary agreeable. The fields yield plenty of rice, w generally begin to reap in May, and by the mi pleted. Most of the European fruits are prod are superior in size and flavor to what can be the apricot, grape, and pomegranate. The la Persians, in their pompous style, call it the fruit

5. MINERALS. Persia contains mines of iron turkois-stones, which are found in Khorasan. mony, are found in the mountains. Quarries of have also been discovered near Taurus.

6. CITIES. Teheran, in the northwestern pa now considered as the capital of Persia. It is a ence, situated in a dreary plain, which is only p nished with a citadel, and surrounded by a stron some or well built town. Within the fortress is external magnificence. So excessive is the heat borhood, that the king and the greater part of the for two or three months. The population is then the rest of the year, it amounts to 50,000,

« AnteriorContinuar »