The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-17

does not suflce to meet the wants Of the
government, and Hogglngs, satrapal eX-
tortions, and other means used In the
East TO raise revenue, have long ago lost
their power. Persia consists alternately
OF psradises, such as described by Eatiz
and SaadI, and partly by Goethe, In his
'WestestllCher Disan, and OF deserts Oi
rock, sand salt.
although there are high mountain
ranges It never rains enough, because the
heights arc destitute Of forest and there
exists no work Of irrigation. In the
vicinity Of the sea the rivers loso their
flow in terrible Wildernesses or dead,
bitter and salt lakes. There are the
greatest contrasts Of temperature. In
some parts people perish from cold and
fever, while In others they are dying Of
heat. A strip Of coast on the Persian
Gulf Is during the greatest part ot the
year as hot as an oven, while on tho coast
Of the Caspian Sea there Is for at least
five months in the year cold, damp, 70.
Verish air. Between these parts there
are here and there Oases OF SURPRISING
beauty, with fields covered with grain or
gardens full Of roses, lilies and other
flowers. 90 ggrI.-tl
"Tbe present capital, Teherap, unites
ia itself nearly all possible degrees OF cold
and heat. ItimidBinter missionaries skate,
10 the amusement Of the Shah and his
ministers, on long sheets Of ice, which are
protected by high walls against the rays
Of sun, which are also In winter powerful,
In order that the ice may last the longer.
During the summer every one who can
get away goes 10 the slope OF the Elboorz
mountains; those who must remain live
In the heat Of the day in subEerranean
rooms, and at night on the roofs Of the
houses, in an atmosphere so dry that one
cannot catch cold. Good roads are found
but rarely or not at all, and travelling Is
done on horseback; butthe Shah, for his
own convenience, has had built to his
country residence q railway about one
German mile in length. -
Travelling Is not everywhere without
danger, for there ore wild, nomadiC
hordes, who attack and plundeR single
as well as caravans. The Shah
has too many soldiers for, the revenues of
the country, but too few for its securities.
These soldiers drain the country, but look
nevertheless starved, shabby aud raggedly
uniformed. They are frequently but half
armed, and -Beem rather like robbers or
beggars than protectors Of the country.
They also rarely receive their pay regu-
larly. They drill in the European man
ner, but very negligent; in fact they show
their decay In their faces Just as the coun-
try does. Persia IS lin many places COW
cred with the decayed ruins Of very old,
and new capitals.
"Pssagarda, the Oldest capital and resi-
1ence OF Persia, In Parsis, near the frontier
Of KaTmanis, Contained in fine park the
tomb Of Cyrus, its founder, who built the
town as a monument oil the victory he
had gained here over the Median ASty-
ages. To the northwest Of It was Perse-
polls, founded by Cambyses, enlarged and
besutifed by Darius l. and Herxes.
at present called HamAdan,
was, on account Of its agreeable climate,
the summer residence Of the Persian and
Parthia kings; q most magnificent city,
with splendid royal palace. Teheran,
the present capital Of Persia and residence
oil the Shah since the last century, can
hardly show q decent building besides the
palaces Of the Shah and some ofhis favor.
ties. The streets are narrow, curved and
ill.paved, the rooms Of tho houses low and
poorly furnished. The genuine Persians,
males and females, are still good. looking |
and Yell.grown, with On almost German
expression of lace, but lean and feeble,
The only things In the country that have
conserved themselves beautiful and pow.
erGul are the horses. But ability and
taste, wit and humor, cannot have alto
gether died out, for in the bazaars are
found many tasteful articles for use and
luxury. The chief blessing OF Persia, the
tasty fruits OF all kinds, and the light
wines oil ECbatans, or Hanadsn, still de-
serve all the praise given TO them by the
poet Ha62." 70. ...