SHAHRUD  , the

capital of the Shahrud-Bostam province of Persia, situated about 258 M . E. of Teheran, on the highroad thence to Meshed, at an altitude of 4460 ft., in 36° 25' N., 54° 59' E . It has a population of about 1o,000, post and telegraph offices, and a transit trade between western Khorasan and Astarabad . Although capital of the province, it is not the residence of the governor, who prefers the more healthy Bostam, a small city with fine gardens and a mosque of the 14th century, lying 3 M. to the north-east .