NISHAPUR  , a

province of Persia, situated between Meshed and Sabzevar, in northern Khorasan . The older name of the district was Abarshehr . It has a population of from 130,000 to 140,000, is divided into twelve districts, and pays a yearly revenue of about £12,000 . It produces much grain and cotton, and is considered one of the most fertile districts of Persia . One of its subdivisions is that of Bar-i-Madan, with chief place Madan (situated 32 M . N.W. of the city of Nishapur, at an elevation of 5100 ft., in 36° 28' N., 58° 20' E.), where the famous mines are which have supplied the world with turquoises for at least 2000 years . The province used to be one of the administrative divisions of Khorasan, but is now a separate province, with a governor appointed by the shah .