BIRJEND  , the

capital of Kann, a sub-province of Khorasan in Persia, in 32° 53' N . 59° 10' E., and at an elevation of 4550 ft . Pop. about 25,000 . It is situated 328 M. from Meshed by the direct road, in a fertile valley running east and west, of which the southern boundary is a lofty range of barren hills known as Kuh i Bakeran . Through the valley runs the Khusp river, which loses itself in the desert towards the west; it is, however, generally dry . The water-supply of the town and of the 70 or 8o villages under its jurisdiction is very scanty . On the east of the town at the foot of a hill stands a dilapidated fort . Birjend has six good caravanserais, a college and some mosques; post and telegraph offices were established there in 1902 .