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 320 PERSIA ceed him. The murder of Hussein by the caliph Yezid is still commemorated in the cities of Persia by the passion plays which constitute the most remarkable observance of Shiah Mohammedanism. The performance takes place in a large tent in the public square, and extends through ten acts, one for each day devoted to mourning in memory of the sad event which the drama celebrates. The growth of the philosophical faith known as Sufism has tended somewhat to the decline of the established religion, though many of its ad- herents endeavor to reconcile its peculiar ten- ets with Mohammedanism. The Sufis, inclu- ding many of the higher classes, believe in an all-pervading divinity, whose essence is shared by mankind, who will ultimately be absorbed therein. They regard individuality as an illu- sion, and confess the fundamental oneness even of what seems most diverse, as of good and bad, of life and death. Their number is esti- mated at 300,000. Similar doctrines are pro- fessed by the Babis, or followers of Mirza Ali Mohammed, who proclaimed himself the Bab ed-Din or "gate of the faith," and excited a rebellion which resulted in his capture and execution (1850). Entire community of prop- erty is advocated by the Babis, and in this re- spect they differ from the Sufis. They are not very numerous. The Parsees, 'or Guebres as they are called in Persia, number only about 7,000, and like the Jews are subjected to the most intolerant restrictions by the government, which not only denies them the right to hold land, but prohibits them from the maintenance of schools or the practice of their religion. Gardening is their favorite pursuit in Persia. They are most numerous in and about Yezd, and there are about 1,000 at Kerman and a few in the capital and other large cities ; but the sect is rapidly disappearing under religious persecution. The other religious denomina- tions comprised among the inhabitants of Per- sia are the Jews, whose number is estimated at 16,000, and the Armenian and JSTestorian Chris- tians, whose numbers are considerable and nearly equal, but variously estimated. The Armenians have two bishops, one of whom is a Roman Catholic. The Nestorians, among whom the American Presbyterians maintain missions, dwell in and about the city of Uru- miah, W. of the lake of that name. The foreign commerce of Persia is comparatively small. Silk is the great staple, though horses, dried fruits, and drugs are sent to India ; sheep, cotton, and woollen manufactures to Turkey; and grain and cotton goods to Rus- sia. Opium, tobacco, gall nuts, and dried fruits are also exported. Owing largely to the manner in which it is wound, the silk is not of the best quality ; and therefore, though it is the most important product of Persia, it is not well adapted to the European market. A large proportion of it is sent to Turkey and to Russia. The people have acquired great dexterity in its manufacture, and satins, sarce- net, brocades, velvets, and all kinds of striped silks are made exceedingly strong and durable, with brilliant colors. Other articles of manu- facture and export are the richly colored and durable Persian carpets, of which the finest are made at Kermanshah, although there are ex- cellent manufactories at Yezd and in S. W. Persia and Khorasan ; shawls made of the fine hair of the goats of Kerman; and gold and silver brocades, printed cottons, firearms, swords, daggers, and various kinds of cutlery, made at Ispahan. There are weavers' factories at Shiraz, and the industrial products of that city and the surrounding district comprise earthenware, glass ware, damascened swords, and rose water. The internal trade is carried on by caravans, which bring from the countries , E. of Persia muslin, leather, lamb skins, nan- keen, china, glassware and hardware, precious stones, saffron, indigo, and spices. The trade on the Caspian sea is monopolized by the Rus- sians, and employs 30 steamers; that on the Persian gulf is mainly in the hands of Arme- nian, Arab, and Indian traders. The imports from Europe comprise tea, sugar, broadcloths, cotton goods, jewelry, arms, cutlery, watches, and earthen, glass, and metal wares, and are exchanged for Persian products. ' The city of Tabriz is the centre of Persian trade with Constantinople on one side, and northern In- dia, central Asia, and Beloochistan on the oth- er. The estimated value of the goods annual- ly exported from Persia is $7,500,000, against $12,500,000 worth of yearly imports. The car- pets annually sent to Turkey alone are valued at $250,000. In 1873 the exports to Great Britain, consisting mostly of gall nuts, were valued at 10,991, and the imports from Great Britain, mainly cotton goods, at 46,853. The unit of Persian coinage is the toman, a gold piece worth about $2 30. The lack of good roads is a formidable obstacle to any increase of commercial prosperity. The routes from Resht to Teheran and thence to Bagdad are in fair condition, and there are some good roads in the vicinity of the capital, over which car- riages are used by the wealthier classes, and also near the holy city of Meshed ; but with these and a few other exceptions, there are no highways in Persia. Since his visit to Europe in 1873, the reigning shah has granted two concessions for the construction of railways within his dominions : one between Enzeli and Teheran, a distance of 175 m., to be built by Baron Reuter ; and the other, in the Rus- sian interest, to extend 85 m. from Julfa on the Arras to Tabriz. The former has been revoked, and the enterprise has for the pres- ent been abandoned. One of the telegraphic lines from England to India traverses Persia from N". to S., passing through Teheran, Is- pahan, and Shiraz to Bush ire, whence a ca- ble extends to Kurrachee in India. Educa- tion, so far as the ability to read and write is concerned, is widely diffused in Persia, and all the large towns contain schools, in which