Shiras

or SHirauz, a city of Persia, capital of Farsistan. It is seated at the end of a spacious plain, bounded on all sides by lofty mountains; and is about five miles in circuit, surrounded by a wall, with round towers at _ the distance of eighty paces. The city is built of brick, and adorned with many fine mosques andjnoble edifices. Here are many good bazars and caravansaries, also a manufacture of swords. ‘This city was the seat of government under the revered Kerim Khan, who erected many of the fine buildings in and near this place. In its vicinity are numerous summerhouses, with gardens; and the rich wines of Shiras are deemed the best in all Persia, The tomb of the celebrated poet Hafiz is in a large garden on the N.E. side of the city, about two miles from the wall; and at the foot of the mountains, in the same direction, is the tomb of Sadi; also a remarkable channel for water hollowed ina rock. Shirasis 175 miles S. by E. of Ispahan. Lon. 52. 40 EK, Lat. 29. 37 N.