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Show TABRIZ: PERSIA'S CAPITAL CITY Tnhrlr., capital of Persia, from which diplomatic representatives recently re-cently lied ut the approach of Ilol-bhovlk Ilol-bhovlk forces, Is ono of tho most Important Im-portant cities In Persia. Its population popula-tion Is nbout 200,000. Teherun, tho capital, Is tho only .place In tho dominions do-minions of tho sliah which exceeds it In size. It Is beautifully situated In n wide valley on the Itlver AJIt which Hows Into tho salt lako of Urumtuh 'M miles to tho west. Although apparently surrounded sur-rounded by mountains, Tabriz has nn elevation of more tlmn 4,000 feot nnd tho cllmnto In winter Is extremely hcere. Hundreds of springs and fountains water thousands of beautiful gardens In this undent city which for centuries cen-turies has enjoyed n deserved reputation repu-tation as a health resort. Indeed, tradition tra-dition says that the place was founded found-ed by 7obeldeh. tho wife of Hnrun-al-Itashld, hero of the "Arabian Nights." According to this legend, Zobeldeh enrao hero to recuperate from n fever In tho year 701, and u euro was quick-i quick-i y effected, thanks to the salubrious cllnmle. hence the tmmo Tab, (fever) ! rlz (pouror away), or "fever dostroy-i dostroy-i ing." As a matter of cold history, however, Tabriz was In existence four centuries bfore the birth of the beautiful beau-tiful Zobelh. I Up to the time qf tho completion I of a railway through tho Cnucnsiis and the Improvement of transports tlon facilities on tho Cnsplnn sea, Tabriz was the emporium of Perslun trade' with tho Wost. Now, however, I fiiost of Us trade has been diverted, i to Astara, on the Caspian, iriO mllos , to the east, and to ltoslit. 200 miles t (be southeast 1 Of tho three hundred mosques of v i leb Hie cit boosts only one deer de-er tves special mention. It Is the fa-' mous Illuo Mosque, eo called beennso It Is covered with bluo tiles. It dates from tho fifteenth century nnd Is now In ruins. Tho urk or citadel ls a brick building of mnsslvo wnlls, with n tower 120 feet high. Moro than half of tho trade of Tabriz was with Itussla. Its chief Imports beforj tho World war disturbed dis-turbed conditions were cotton nnd woolen tissues, sugar hndM5n. |