Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 14.djvu/112

100 K I K K I S

running from Kirmán north-eastwards to Herát, which is traversed by couriers at great risk in about eighteen days. It appears from recent observation that these sandy wastes are continually encroaching on the fertile districts, and this is the case even in Nurmanshahr, which is being invaded by the sands of the desolate plains stretching thence westwards to Bam, There are also some "kafeh" or salt swamps, answering to the kavír of Khórásán, but occurring only in isolated depressions, and nowhere of any great extent. The desert of Kirmán lies about 500 or 600 feet above the sea, apparently on nearly the same level as the desert of Lut, from which it cannot be geographically separated.

The climate, which varies much with the relief of the land, has the reputation of being the most unhealthy in Persia, the fever-stricken districts of the Caspian alone excepted. The cool air from the snowy ranges is usually attended by chills and agues, so that the people on the whole prefer the sultry heat of the plains. Still some of the sheltered upland valleys in Nurmanshahr and elsewhere enjoy a genial climate like that of Shíráz.

The chief products are cotton, wheat, barley, gums, dates of almost unrivalled flavour from Mogistan, and wool both of sheep and goats (kurk) noted for its extreme softness. This wool is used in the manufacture of the Kirmán shawls, which yield in delicacy of texture only to those of Kashmír, while often surpassing them in design, colour, and finish. A shawl of the finer quality, 3 yards long, is sold on the spot for from £20 to £24. Spinning and dyeing are also practised, so that the province completes the manufacture of its own raw material. Its carpets and felts are also unsurpassed for richness of texture and durability. Besides these woven goods it exports mainly cotton, grain, and dates, receiving in return from India chintzes, muslins, indigo, tea, gold-cloth, china, glass, sugar; from Turkestan madder, rhubarb, drugs, gums, furs, silks, Bokhara furs, steel, copper, tea. Bandar-Abbas is the natural outport; but, since shipping has shown a preference for Bushire further north, the trade of Kirmán has greatly fallen off.

The inhabitants, numbering altogether about 500,000, consist of Tajiks in the towns and agricultural districts, some Túrki, Rind, and Balúchi nomads in the east and south-east, and numerous Kúrd tribes, here called Leks. Shiel gives a list (incomplete) of twenty-one of these Lek tribes, dwelling partly in houses partly in tents, and numbering altogether about 200,000 souls.

The chief towns are Kirmán (the capital), Regan, Kruk, Kúm, Bam, Khabís, Khánú, and Bandar-Abbas.

KIRMÁNSHÁHÁN, or Kermanshah (Arabic, Ḳarmísín), a town and district of west Persia, lying between Ardelán and Lúristán north and south. The town is the chief place in what is known as Persian Kúrdistán, an expression, however, which has no administrative significance. It lies in 34° 18′ N. lat. and 46° 37′ E. long., on a rising ground connected with the Zagros hills, which stretch south-eastwards to the Bakhtiari range. Here it occupies an important strategical position near the right bank of the river Kernah, 250 miles south-west of Tehrán, 262 north-west of Ispahán, 220 north-east of Baghdad, and 280 south of Tabriz. Although surrounded by fortifications with five gates and 3 miles in circuit, it is now practically an open town, for the walls are in ruins and the moat choked with rubbish. During Muhammad Ali Mirza's administration it was a very flourishing place, with a population of 35,000 and a large local and transit trade between Baghdad and Tehrán. Since then it has suffered more than most towns in Persia from misgovernment, under which its few buildings have gone to decay, its bazaars have become empty, and its trade reduced to a local traffic in the excellent fruits produced in the surrounding gardens and orchards. The rich and beautiful carpets and rugs for which it was formerly noted are no longer to be had, and the population has fallen to about 12,000, exclusive of a garrison of 5000 usually maintained at this important frontier station.

Kirmánsháhán is governed by a royal prince, with jurisdiction over the district, which occupies an extensive tract between Mount Elwend and the Turkish border. Here the plains are well watered and very fertile, while the hills are covered with rich pastures which support large flocks of sheep and goats, besides horses of a good breed crossed with Arab blood. About 70,000 sheep are yearly taken to Tehrán by the Kúrd shepherds, who form the vast majority of the inhabitants of the district, residing some in houses some in tents, and numbering altogether about 180,000.

KIRRIEMUIR, a burgh of barony and market-town of Forfarshire, Scotland, is beautifully situated on an eminence, above the glen through which the Gairie flows. It lies about 5 miles north-west of Forfar, and about 62 miles north of Edinburgh. The town, consisting of several narrow diverging streets, is tolerably well built. Its educational advantages are good; by the Henry bequest a number of boys are maintained at the public school; and by the Webster bequest a school has been endowed and erected. The special industry of the town is linen-weaving, for which large power-loom factories have recently been built. The population in 1881 was 6588.

KIRSANOFF, a town of Russia, in the government of Tamboff, 61 miles east of the government town, near the junction of the Pursavka with the Yorona, with a station on the railway between Saratoff and Kozloff. The population, which increased from 5699 in 1862 to 7200 in 1872, is mainly engaged in agriculture and trade, the only manufactures of importance being those of wax and tallow. There is a nunnery with nearly one hundred nuns in the town. Kirsanoff owes its origin to the opening of iron works in 1733. It became a district town in 1779.

KISFALUDY, Károly or Charles (1788-1830), one of the most genial, prolific, and gifted poets of Hungary, and especially celebrated as the regenerator of the national drama, was born on the 6th of February 1788, at Tét, in the county of Györ. His birth cost his mother her life, which unfortunate circumstance preyed upon the father's mind and caused him to view the child with feelings akin to aversion. The austerity of his father and the loss of his mother were, however, in a great measure made amends for to Károly by the love of his elder sister Teréz, who tended him during his early years with maternal care, and remained devoted to him through his whole life. In 1799 he was sent to the gymnasium at Györ (Raab), where he made only moderate progress in his studies, whilst the impetuosity of his disposition often involved him in trouble. Placed as a cadet in Duke Eszterházy's regiment in 1804, he saw a good deal of service, rising to the rank of captain. In 1811 he quitted the army with the intention of marrying. Offended at this step, his father withdrew from him all support, and his affianced bride rejected him upon finding him at variance with his father. His sister, then the wife of Captain Gábor Farkas, offered him an asylum in her home, where he remained during the winter of 1811-12; but, unwilling to eat the bread of dependence, Károly removed to Pest and afterwards to Vienna, where he tried to live by his skill in painting. He at this time began assiduously to study the works of Shakespeare, Schiller, and Lessing, became a frequent visitor at the Vienna theatre, and made the acquaintance of its official poet Theodore Körner, whose drama Zrinyi was written at Kisfaludy's suggestion. Rendered impatient by ill success, he soon left Vienna, and