[Illustration]
* * * * *
{44}
PERSIA. Per'she-a.
A kingdom of Western Asia. Area, 610,000 square miles. Population,
7,653,600. Temperature ranges from 10deg to 110deg; winters severe in
central territory; summers hot and dry.
The government is an unlimited despotism. The Koran is law, the Shah being
looked upon as the vicegerent of the prophet. Persia has no national debt.
Persian army numbers 105,500 men on war basis; peace footing, 30,000.
Soil, in some of the extensive valleys, very fertile. Wheat and other
cereals, cotton, sugar, rice, tobacco and opium yield well; silk is an
important product of the country. Fruit trees and vegetables flourish.
Mineral resources undeveloped. Diamonds have been taken from mines in
Khorasan for centuries. Pearl fisheries of the Persian Gulf the most
extensive in the world.
Commerce centres at Tabriz. Bushire and Lingah principal ports. Imports, by
Lingah and Bushire, in 1883, $5,724,665. Exports, by same ports,
$3,071,705; opium, $1,403,415; grain and pulse, $342,250. System of
telegraph in the hands of Europeans; miles of line, 3,647; of wire, 5,947;
offices, 78. Mail service from Julfa to Tabriz and Teheran, thence to
Resht, established in 1877.
Capital, Teheran; pop., 100,000. Of total population, 1,963,800 live in
cities, 1,909,800 are nomadic tribes, 3,780,000 inhabit country districts
and villages. Education among the upper classes advanced; many colleges are
sustained by government.
AFGHANISTAN. Af-gan`is-tan'.
Name given to plateau on northwest frontier of India. Estimated area,
278,000 square miles. Temperature at Ghazni, 10deg to 15deg below zero; at
Kandahar, heat in summer reaches 120deg. No other country of equal area has
such diversities of climate. Distinguished for the mountain passes, through
which India has been frequently invaded.
Government is a despotism. Capital, Kabul. Population, 2,500,000,
consisting of numerous warlike clans. The Amir is a military dictator, with
a yearly revenue of $2,000,000, and a subsidy of $600,000 from India.
Two-thirds of inhabitants Mohammedans.
Agricultural and pastoral pursuits the chief industries of the people;
wheat the most important crop; rice, barley and millet grown. On terraces,
6,000 and 7,000 feet high, all the vegetables and fruits of Europe grow; in
the south, sugar cane and date palm.
BELUCHISTAN. Bel-oo`chis-tan'.
A country of Asia lying east of Persia. Area, 140,000 square miles.
Population, 1,000,000. Climate diverse; in higher parts, extremely cold; in
valleys, heat is oppressive. Deficiency of water throughout the whole
country. Surface rugged and barren.
The soil is unproductive, but has been cultivated until it supplies the
natives with necessaries. Fruits and vegetables flourish near the towns.
The only exports are horses, grain and dates. Imports: Indian silk, cotton
goods, rice, sugar, spices, and dye stuffs in small quantities.
The government is a despotism. Khan has unlimited power over life, person
and property; resides at Kelat, the capital, a city with a population of
10,000. Inhabitants divided into many tribes, ruled by chiefs. {45}
[Illustration]
* * * * *
{46}