KUCHAN  , the

capital of the district, has suffered much from the effects of earthquakes, notably in 1875, 1894 and 1895 . The last earthquake laid the whole town in ruins and caused considerable loss of life . About 8000 of the survivors removed to a site 72 M . E. and there built a new town named Nasseriyeh after Nasr-ud-din Shah, but known better as Kuchan i jadid, i.e . New Kuchan, and about r000 remained in the ruined city in order to be near their vineyards and gardens . The geographical position of the old town is 370 8' N., 58° 25' E., elevation 4100 ft . The new town has been regularly laid out with broad streets and spacious bazaars, and, situated as it is half-way between Meshed and Askabad on the cart-road connecting those two places, has much trade . Its population is estimated at ro,000 . There are telegraph and post offices .