ASTERABAD, a province in the north-east part
of Persia, having Tabristan on the east, part of the
Caspian sea and part of Jordan on the north, Korasan
on the west, and Koumas on the south. It is a moun-
tainous country, except near the banks of the rivers
that almost surround it, where it is pleasant and fruit-
ful, producing grapes of a prodigious size. In other
parts the soil is sandy and barren. Asterabad is the
chief town, which gives name to a gulf in the Persian
sea, at the bottom of which it stands. E. Long. 54.
35. N. Lat. 36. 50.