File:The universal geography - the earth and its inhabitants (1876) (14742313286).jpg

Identifier: cu31924095158964 (find matches)
Title: The universal geography : the earth and its inhabitants
Year: 1876 (1870s)
Authors: Reclus, Elisée, 1830-1905 Ravenstein, Ernest George, 1834-1913 Keane, A. H. (Augustus Henry), 1833-1912
Subjects: Geography
Publisher: London : J.S. Virtue & Co., Ltd.
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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slam, but who aremerely nominal Mohammedans, still cherishing the old faith in secret. The plain stretching north-west of Meshed and draining to the Heri-rud isdotted over with Kurdish villages, fortified against the attacks of the Turkomanmarauders. In this region, which is one of the granaries of Persia, and noted forits excellent breed of camels, are also situated the towns of Kasimdbad and Radkan,the latter near the marshes about the sources of the Kashaf-rud. North ofKasimabad stand the ruins of the famous city of Tus, where Harun-ar-Rashid died,and where, in 940, was born the poet Firdusi, author of the Shah-nameh. Thelittle shrine which till the beginning of the present century still marked the siteof his tomb has since disappeared. The towns lying on the northern slope of the mountains north of Meshed havehitherto been prevented from flourishing by the incessant border warfare with the TOPOGEA.PHY—MESHED.Fig, 41.—Tower of Meimandan on the Eoute ttiom Pamghan to Meshed. 119
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j>rLj^j^ Turkoman raiders. But since the pacification of this region by the reduction of theTekkes, Mohammedabad, Lutfabad, and other places on the fertile slopes of the 120 SOUTH-WESTEEN ASIA. Dereghez ( Tamarind Valley ), cannot fail to become important centres of tradebetween Persia and tbe Caspian basin. But bow many ruined cities are sbown overthese productive regions, formerly cultivated by the industrious inhabitants ofMargiana! From the spurs of the mountains projecting into the Tejen valley, thehorizon appears in many places fringed with the countless remains of walls andramparts quivering in the mirage. Here and there whole towns with their streets,squares, and citadels, have remained in almost as perfect a state of preservation aswhen they were first abandoned. But their only denizens are now the prowlingleopard and jackal. One of these phantom cities is Khivdbad, peopled by Nadir-Shah with captives from Khiva and Bokhara, but where no native would nowdare to take up his

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