1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Nīrīz

NĪRĪZ, or Nairzīz, a district and town in the province of Fars, Persia. The district has 24 villages and extends from near Istahbamat, south of the Bakhtegan lake, to about 50 m. E. Water is scarce and the plain is not much cultivated in consequence. The produce consists of some grain, cotton, tobacco, &c., but fruit is more abundant. Here, as in the neighbouring Darab district, villages situated in the hills are called madan (mine), and some travellers have in their itineraries indicated a mine in localities where there is none.

The town of Nīrīz is situated in a plain 7 m. from the south-eastern point of the lake, and about 130 m. from Shiraz, and has a population of about 9000. The people of Nīrīz were stanch followers of the Báb (see Bābism), and rose against the government in 1850 and in 1852, with disastrous results. Niriz was formerly known for its manufacture of steel from iron ore brought from Parpa, 40 m. E.