KHAMSEH

khamseh, a small but important province of persia, between kazvin and tabriz. it consisted formerly of five districts, whence its name khamseh, "the five," but is now subdivided into seventeen districts. the language of the inhabitants is turkish. the province pays a revenue of about £20,000 per annum, and its capital is zenjan. khamsin (arabic for "fifty"), a hot oppressive wind arising in the sahara. it blows in egypt at intervals for about fifty days during march, april and may, and fills the air with sand. in guinea the wind from the sahara is known as harmattan (q.v.).