Researches Into the Physical History of Mankind: History of the Asiatic nations. 3d ed. 1844

JAMES COWLES PRICHARD, M.D., F.R.S., M.R.I.A.

CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE,

HONORARY MEMBER OF THE CAMBRIDGE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, OF THE ROYAL

ACADEMY OF MEDICINE OF PARIS, OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL

SOCIETY, OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA,
OF THE ORIENTAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, OF THE ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK,
OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, OF THE SCIENTIFIC ACADEMY
OF SIENNA. HONORARY FELLOW OF THE KING'S AND QUEEN'S COLLEGE

OF PHYSICIANS OF IRELAND.

THIRD EDITION.

VOL. IV.

CONTAINING

RESEARCHES INTO THE HISTORY OF THE ASIATIC

NATIONS.

LONDON:

SHERWOOD, GILBERT, AND PIPER.

PATERNOSTER ROW.

1844.

The colate of A

BRISTOL:

PRINTED BY HUGH C. EVANS,

CLARE-STREET.

ADVERTISEMENT.

SOME apology is due to the readers of this work for the late appearance of the present volume. The author has only to say, that the delay has arisen from circumstances connected with the publication that were not within his control. The manuscript was nearly ready for the press two years ago.

may be proper to add, that no similar delay is likely to occur in the appearance of the fifth volume, which will complete the work.

The delay has been, in one respect, fortunate, since it has enabled the author to avail himself, for the ethnological map which accompanies this volume, of the systematic view given in the late work of Baron Alexander von Humboldt, of the physical geography of Asia, and the positions of the great table-lands and mountain-chains of that continent,— circumstances which have often determined or modified the migratory movements of nations.

Of the utility of this map in illustration of many passages there is no need of saying anything at present. The reader will speedily become aware of it. It may be proper to observe, that the sites of the great mountain-chains have been laid down according to M. de Humboldt, and the positions of places and tribes from the maps of D'Ohsson and Klaproth.

ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.

Of the Ancient and Modern Population of Iran or the Medo-

Persian Empire.

SECTION 1. General observations-Outline of the physical

geography of Iran

Page.

SECTION 2.

Of three different historical sources of informa-

tion respecting the old Persian race