or ASTERAHAD, a town of Persia, the capital of the above province, is situated near the mouth of the River Gourgan, which flows into the Caspian, and at the head of a sheltered bay, extremely convenient for shipping. Astrabad is a pleasant, well-built town, about 3½ miles in circuit, and highly picturesque in appearance, from the buildings being intermingled with trees and extensive gardens. It was formerly larger, but Nadir Shah contracted it within its present limits. A mound of earth surrounds it, the remains of a mud wall once lofty and formidable, and defended by numerous towers, and also by a wide and deep ditch, now almost filled with rubbish. Astrabad owes its origin to Yezzen-ibn-Messlub, an Arab chief of great celebrity, who commanded the armies of Soliman, the seventh khalif of the Ommiades, about the beginning of the seventh century. It was destroyed by Tamerlane. In 1744 Hanway visited this place, and attempted to open a direct trade with it from Europe. It has now but little trade; and the bazaars, though extensive, are but poorly filled, containing little more than the necessary supplies for the consumption of the place. The number of houses within the walls is estimated at from 2000 to 3000. The town is extremely unhealthy during the hot weather, owing to the noxious exhalations of the surrounding forests. Distance N.E. of Isfahan 400 miles. Long. 54. 25. E. Lat. 36. 50. N.