CASBIN, or CASWEEN, a city of Persia, in the province
of Irak. It is situated on a large sandy plain or valley to
the S.W. of the lofty ridge of the Elburz. Although the
greater portion of it was thrown down by an earthquake, it
is still regarded as one of the largest and most populous
towns in the kingdom, and carries on a great trade with
Ghilan. It is built in the form of a square, each side of
which is about a mile long, and surrounded by a wall. There
is a palace here built by Nadir Shah, adjoining an old one
erected by Shah Abbas the Great. It became the capital
of Persia during the reigns of the immediate predecessors of
this latter monarch; and when visited by Chardin in 1674,
contained many magnificent buildings, which are now mostly
in ruins. It has manufactures of carpets of different colours,
which are in high repute, and also of sword blades; and
still carries on a considerable trade with Georgia, Azerbaijan,
Ghilan, and the Caspian Sea. The population is estimated
at 60,000. E. Long. 49. 33., N. Lat. 36. 12.