YEZD  , the

capital of the province of the same name in Persia, situated 192 M . N.W. of Kerman, 162 M . S.E. of Isfahan, in 310 54' N. and 540 22' E., at an elevation of 4240 ft . Its population, roo,000 in 1810, is now estimated at 50,000, including 2000 Jews and 1300 Zoroastrians.) The city is divided into the Shahr i nau (new town) and Shahr i kohneh (old town), separated by a wall with two gates . The ark, or citadel, in the E. of the town, is fortified with walls, bastions and dry ditch, and contains the governor's residence . The bazaar is in good repair and well stocked; other parts of the town are irregularly planned, with dark, narrow streets . There are eighteen mosques, one, the Masjed i Tama, also called Masjed i Mir Chakhmak, is an old and decayed structure originally built in 1119, with a lofty and imposing frontage dating from 1472 . There are seven colleges . The caravanserais number thirty-three . There are telegraph (English staff since 1903) and post offices . The Englishman in charge of the telegraph office acts as British vice-consul .