BAM  , a

town of Persia in the province of Kerman, situated 115 M . S.E. of the city of Kerman at an elevation of 3600 ft. on both banks of the river Barn . Pop. about 13,000 . It is the capital of the Barn-Narmashir district and has extensive groves of date-palms and gardens . Outside the town stands the famous citadel with walls 40 ft. in height . This citadel was, even as late as the beginning of the 19th century, the strongest fortified place in Persia, and owed its strength to the Afghans who took Bam in 1719 and were not finally expelled until 18o1 . Post and telegraph offices have been established there since 1903 .