208 



Capt. Taylor's Notes on Account of tlie Ruins of Alwaz. 



for the future fortunes of my native land, and effectually softened into 

 compassion the disgust I miglit have entertained for the vicious and 

 degraded people of this wilderness of desolation. 



Robert Mignan. 



NOTES 



TO THE PRECEDING MEMOIR, 



CAPTAIN TAYLOR. 



In forwarding to the Royal Asiatic Society the annexed description of the 

 ruins of the ancient city of Ahwaz, situate ninety-two miles north-east of 

 Bussorah, and forty-eight miles south of Shuster, which has been drawn up 

 by Lieutenant Mignan, who has just returned from visiting tliem, I have 

 been permitted to append the few remarks I could select on this subject 

 from such Oriental manuscripts in my possession as appeared to be most 

 wortliy of confidence. As they are illustrative of a topic hitherto lightly 

 touched, and consequently obscure, they can scarcely fail to interest from 

 their novelty, though they might not fix the attention of the reader, from 

 any great intrinsic importance. 



Of the foundation of this city I have it not in my power to assign the 

 date. Its name occurs very early in the annals of Islam. The specimens 

 of its architectural decoration, brought from the ruins by Lieut. Mignan, 

 are decidedly Moslem, bearing inscriptions in no character but the early 

 Gufic, nor language other than the Arabic : a remark equally applicable to 

 the coins and gems usually found there ; with the exception of a few small 

 intaglios on cornelian or oriental onyx, the only evidences of an antiquity 

 more i-emote than the era of Muhammed. All these circumstances would 

 appear to lead to one of two conclusions : either that the remains now seen 

 are those of a city founded by the first khalifs of the Ommiade dynasty, or 

 that additions had been made to the edifices already erected by the Persians 

 on a site older than tiie epoch of the advance and victories of the adherents 

 of Islam. The zenith, however, of its prosperity was attained under the 

 earlier khalifs of the house of Abbas ; nor did it long survive their fall. 



