Modern Persia | Page 6

with sturgeon. Silver, lead, iron, copper, salt,
antimony, sulphur, and naptha are mined in large quantities. The late
Shah found a little gold, but not in quantities sufficient to pay for
mining.
INHABITANTS.
In the days of Darius and Cyrus the population numbered not less than
40,000,000, but that number has diminished until now not more than
10,000,000 people dwell in this once-populous land. These are from
different nationalities: the Kurds, numbering 500,000, Arabs, 500,000,
Jews, 20,000, Nestorians, 60,000, Armenians, 60,000, Zoroastrians,
15,000, and the remainder are a Mohammedan sect.
MANUFACTURIES AND TRADES.
The manufacturies of Persia are by no means extensive, but Persian
rugs and shawls have a reputation the world over. The deft fingers of
the women have contributed for centuries to the glory and wealth of
this country. In the marts and markets of the world these rugs and

shawls sell for fabulous prices. At the World's Fair I saw a single rug
valued at $15,000.
Trade, both domestic and foreign, is carried on by caravans. Tabriz is
the chief commercial city and from this point goods to the value of
$2,500,000 are exported annually. From the province Shiraz about
$900,000 worth of opium is sent out each year.
GOVERNMENT AND TAXATION.
The government of Persia is a pure despotism. The Shah is absolute
monarch; he appoints governors for each of the thirteen states and these
governors, in turn, appoint minor governors for the cities. Six cabinet
officers assist the executive, but their function is wholly advisory.
Upon the least pretext, any member of the cabinet may, at the will of
the Shah, lose his head.
The country has been impoverished for ages from two principle sources.
Nomadic tribes, wandering bands of Kurds and Arabs swoop down
upon some unprotected villages and carry away everything of any value.
Taxation is the second cause of poverty. The burden of the taxes falls
upon Jews and Christians, the most cruel extortions often being used to
obtain the desired amount. In 1882 the revenue was about £1,880,000,
of which nearly £1,500,000 were from direct taxations. But
notwithstanding so much is collected, not one cent goes for public
improvements.
THE ARMY.
The standing army numbers about 130,000, of which only 30,000 are
well disciplined infantry, 10,000 artillery, 10,000 cavalry, and irregular
infantry and guards constitute the remainder. The officers in the Persian
army are for the most part ignorant and inefficient, while the soldiers
are described as obedient, sober, intelligent and capable to endure great
fatigue. The peculiar power of the Persian army lies in its irregular
cavalry of Kurds and other tribes who are famous for their courage and
daring, and are equal to the Russian Cossacks and vastly superior to the
Turkish Sultan's Boshibozouks.

[Illustration: PERSIAN OFFICER.]
CHAPTER II.
THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF PERSIA.
According to the poet, Firdusi, in his Shah Nomeh, the history of Persia
begins some thousands of years before the Christian era. Professor
Yooseph of Oroomiah College one of Persia's most scholarly men
holds that as early as the time of Abraham there was here an organized
government. The first king was the Chedolaomer of the Bible, King of
Elam (Gen. 14:1). This opinion is confirmed by the fact that the name
Elam is in reality the name of Persia. Persians call their country Ajam.
Thus it can be seen that the Hebrew letter j has been changed to l.
However there is stronger proof of this theory in the accounts of Greek
historians. The northwest part of ancient Persia, called Media, was
known to the Greeks as a part of the Assyrian Empire. But the Medes
under Dejoce in 708 B.C. threw off the yoke of Assyria and gained the
dominance over the other tribes of Persia. In 538 Cyrus of Persia
rebelled against the Medes, led an army to victory over them, and
extended the Persian Empire as far east as the Oxus and Indus and over
Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine and Mesopotania. He was succeeded by
his son Cambyses (529-522) and the latter by Darius (522-521). This
dynasty ruled till Darius III. (336-329). He was compelled to yield his
throne to Alexander the Great, who conquered all Persia. Under the
leadership of the tribe of Arsocide Persia became independent in 246
B.C. But the dynasty of Arsocide came to an end at the hand of
Ardasher Babajan, who managed to gain possession of more than half
of the entire country, i.e., of the provinces of Fars, Kerman and the
whole of Irakiston. Then in 218 this valiant warrior conquered the
whole nation and was crowned "King of Kings" (in Persian, Shah in
Shah) with Ardasher begin the famous dynasty of the Sassanidae who
brought Persia to an unprecedented eminence of power and prosperity.
Their last king succumbed to the Arabs in 636 A.D. and