1834.] By Munshi Molmn Lai. 17 



the shape of a door. It was of a single piece, and so beautifully clear, 

 that our faces were reflected in it. The length of the stone was ten 

 spans, and the breadth, eight. 



Having passed through a very small door, we happened to come into a 

 square of 20 paces, where the body of Sultan Ghiasuddin reposes. 

 The place is very filthy, and the grave is reduced to pieces. There is no 

 inscription at all. The roof has fallen into decay, and overwhelms the 

 tomb. There are many graves also, and the bones of the dead seemed 

 to be decayed. Our sight got dim by visiting the sepulchres. There 

 was no difference between the tomb of the great Sultan and that of the 

 poor man. 



In the square of the mosque is a small cistern of water, for ablution, 

 and a large heavy vessel of tin, made by Sultan Ghiasuddin ; the cir- 

 cumference of which was 20 spans, and the thickness of the edge was 

 one. There were inscriptions written on the borders of the vessel, dated 

 700 years ago. 



It was repaired by Malak Ghiasuddin Cu'rt, 470 years ago, and 

 repainted by Mir Ali Shair, the minister of Sultan Hosain, 350 

 years ago. The verse informs us the day of the repair. 



^.jJ&Lj) "^jJ*j s^f^J lc^J ij^aS JL«a.2w J J- (jEjjUc^jAj 



[This place, which was hefore vile as a rotten hone, has acquired enduring 

 fame like the kaaia. I inquired the date of the building, and my mind answered : 

 " it is a second altar of Abraham." a. h. 950.] 



The ruined buildings of Herat are beyond my ideas of description, 

 and I am very sorry indeed that I am not well conversant with the Eng- 

 lish language. 



One far sang far from the city towards the south is a famous bridge, called 

 PulMdldn. In former days there were 33 arches, but now only 27 remain. 



No history gives us any information about the foundation of the bridge, 

 but the people say that it was built by a lady named Nur Biby, who lived 

 more than 1000 years ago. The books of Herat give no account of 

 the bridge, which is called by the natives ' the matchless in the world.' 

 The inundation of the river was so rapid, during our residence at 

 Herat, that three arches were swept away from one end, and nearly for 

 two months all intercourse between Herat and other places was arrested. 



From Kochan, or Kabu Shain, where we were with the camp of H. 

 R. H. Abas Mirza, Astrabad, a sea-port town on the bank of the Cas- 

 pian, is nine days' journey ; and I am sorry not to know what sort of road 

 continues from this to the above place ; but in winter we hear the road 



D 



