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COXE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA. 88e
by their own khans, who, though tributary to the fophy, render themfelves occa-
fionally independent ; and as they are continually at war with each other, their govern-
ments are the feat of almoft perpetual hoftility, rapine, and devaftation. Meanwhile,
the trade flourifhes or diminifhes in proportion as the exactions of the fovereigns are
more or lefs frequent and exorbitant.
The Perfian havens are, 1. Derbent; 2. Niezabad; 3. Baku; 4. Einzellee; 5. Fa-
rabat; 6. Medfhetifar; 7. Aftrabad.
1. Derbent is the worft port in the Cafpian ; if it can be called a port, where veffels
can feldom approach the fhore, on account of fands and fhoals, but are generally oblig-
ed to anchor, at the diftance of three quarters of a mile: from this circumftance, joined
to the inconfiderabie degree of commerce, it is little frequented. Derbent in the pro-
vince of Shirvan, is a Perfian fortrefs, furrounded by high brick walls; the inhabitants
are chiefly Perfians, Tartars, and a few Armenians. ‘Two or three Ruffian fhips are
annually bound for Derbent; they are ufually laden with oats and rye, and carry iron,
fteel, and lead for the Lefgees and other ‘Tartar nations, who inhabit the Eaftern chain
of the Caucafus. The neighbourhood produces fome corn, but not fufficient for the
confumption of the place. 2. Niefovaia Priftan, or Niezabad, was formerly the port moft
frequented by the Ruffians, and chiefly vifited by the merchants of Shamakee, who
fupplied the province of Shirvan with European commodities. Near the harbour are
feveral wretched villages. 3. Baku is elteemed the moft commodious haven, as veflels
may fecurely anchor in feven fathoms water; but the number of fhoals, iflands, and
fand-banks, render the entrance extremely difficult and dangerous, particularly to the
Ruffians who are not expert failors. Baku is a fortrefs furrounded with high brick
walls: the inhabitants like thofe of Derbent, are Perfians, Tartars and a few Armenian -
merchants, ‘The principal articles of exportation are naphta, and rock falt, of both
which there are mines on the eaft fide of the bay. The inhabitants cultivate faffron and
the cotton-tree, but not to any confiderable advantage. The trade of Baku, though
more valuable than that of Derbent, is ftill inconfiderable, and chiefly carried on with
Shamakee, from whence it draws raw filk and filken ftuffs. A Ruffian conful is refi-
dent at this place*. Before we quit the province of Shirvan, it may not be improper
to mention its capital, the inland town of Shamakee, which is only fixty-fix miles from
Baku, and fupplies that port with raw filk and filken ftuffs. Shamakee owed its com-
mercial importance to the filk which is cultivated in the neighbouring diftrict, and {till
preferves the town from ruin, though the traffic is greatly reduced by the exorbitant
exactions of the Khan of Kuba; it was alfo crowded with Turkifh and Greek merchants
but at prefent contains only a few Armenian and Indian traders. ‘The inhabitants ma-
nufaGture filk and cotton ftuffs, far inferior to thofe made in the beginning of the cen-
tury. The filk of this province is exported into the interior part of Perfia, Turkey,
Georgia, and Ruffia. Shamakee flill fupplies part of Georgia, and the inhabitants of
the Eaftern chain of Mount Caucafus, with European commodities, principally by
means of the traffic with Baku, and the contraband trade with the Armenians and
Ruffianst. 4. Einzellee, though a wretched village, is the moft frequented for the
,
Shirauz. On his death, in 1779, Perfia was again expofed to all the horrors of a difputed fucceffion, and
divided between the two principal competitors. Akan Mahomed Khan, a Perfian of high diltinétion, who
was caltrated in his infancy by order of Nadir Shah, and who, like Narfes, poffeffed great civil and
military talents, was, in 1788, mafter of Mazanderan and Ghilan, as well as the cities of Ifpahan and
Tauris. Jaafar Khan, nephew of Kerim Khan, was at that period fovereign of Shirauz, the capital, and
of the fouthern provinces.x—Franklin’s Tour from Bengal to Perfia, p. 278—351.
* Gmelin, vol. iii. p. 52, &c. Guldenttaedt. + Gmelin, vol. iii, p. 60, &c.
VOL. VI. 5 uU Perfian
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