Kerman

(kür'man,) or SERJAN, a city of Persia, 230 m. E. of Shiraz, celebrated for its beautiful shawls, carpets, and stuffs. Pop. 30,000.-K. is the C. of a large E. p. of same name, lying S. of Khorasan, the N. part of which is a salt and barren desert, but in the S. the land is fertile. Many sheep are bred here; and their fine wool is an article of great trade. Cotton, tobacco, saffron, and madder are raised with facility, and in the greatest perfection; so are fruits of almost every description, and many valuable gums. The manufactures comprise fine woollen fabrics, carpets, goats' and camels' hair shawls, . Pop. 600,000. [s. 515]