RESHT  , the

capital of the province of Gilan in Persia, in 370 17' N., and 49° 36' E., on the left bank of the Siah-rud (Black river), which is a branch of the Sefid-rud (White river), and flows into the Murdab, lagoon of Enzeli . The distance from Enzeli, the port of disembarcation from Russia, on the S. shore of the Caspian, to Resht is 14 M. in a direct line, and is accomplished in an open boat, or (since 1892), depth of water permitting, in a small steamboat to Pir-i-Bazar and thence 6 m. on a good road by carriage . Resht has a population of 6o,000 and is the residence of English, Russian, French and Turkish consuls and the seat of the governor-general of the province of Gilan . The town is situated in low, malarious ground, and was originally buried in jungle, but the Russians during their occupation of the place in 1723-34 cleared much timber and jungle and made some open spaces . The houses are red-tiled and raised from the ground, with broad verandahs and overhanging eaves . Conflagrations are frequent, particularly in the months of January and December, when hot, dry winds resembling the Fohn of the Alps come down from the snow-capped Elburz . A good carriage road constructed and worked by a Russian company and opened to traffic in 1899 connects Resht with Teheran via Kazvin . The value of trade probably exceeds £2,000,000, principal exports being rice, raw silk, dry fruit, fish, sheep and cattle, wool and cotton, and cocoons, the principal imports sugar, cotton goods, silkworm "seed " or eggs (L'o,16o worth in 1906-7), petroleum, glass and china . The trade in dried silk-worm cocoons has increased remarkably since 1893, when only 76,150 lb valued at £6475 were exported; during the year 1906-7 ending loth March, 2,717,540 lb valued at £238,000 were exported . There are telegraph and post offices and branches of the Imperial Bank of Persia and Banque d'Escompte .