Balfrush

Balfrush (or more correctly BARFURUSH, 'mart of burdens'), a town in the Persian province of Mazanderan, on the river Bhawal, 12 miles from its mouth in the Caspian Sea. The river is not navigated, all goods being landed at the port of Meshed-i-Ser, on the Caspian. Balfrush is a centre of trade between Russia and Persia, exporting large quantities of silk, rice, and cotton, while the Russians supply iron and naphtha. It has excellent bazaars, numerous caravanserais, and several Mohammedan colleges. The population is generally stated at 50,000, but some put it as low as 10,000.