Account of the Natural Fire Temples of the Guebres. 
fortifying the Hindoos against the rigours of the cold season. 
On closing the funnel the flame is immediately extinguished, 
and a hollow sound is heard, (by applying the ear to the aper- 
ture,) accompanied with a strong and cold current of air, which 
may be fired at pleasure, by placing near it any flaming sub- 
stance. The flame is of a pale clear colour, without any sensible 
smoke, and emits a vapour strongly impregnated with sulphur, 
which impedes respiration, unless when the head is brought 
lower than the level of the furnace. The Guebres have a wan 
and emaciated appearance, and are oppressed with a hectic cough, 
which also affected Mr Forster during his visit. The ground 
within the inclosure abounds with this subterraneous fire, which 
issues from artificial channels ; but it requires always to be light- 
ed by another flame. 
Besides these fires in the apartments of the Guebres, a large 
one, springing from a natural cliff, in an open place, continually 
burns. Many of these volcanoes are seen on the outside of the 
wall, and have the appearance of limekilns. The general space 
which contains this volcanic fire, is something less than a mile in 
circumference. It forms a low flat hill slanting towards the sea, 
the soil of which consists of a sandy earth intermixed with 
stones. Mr Forster observes, that no mountainous land is seen 
from the Atush-Ivudda, nor any violent eruption of flame ; but 
Mr Kinneir informs us *, that 66 the whole country round Bad- 
ku has at times the appearance of Being enveloped in flames. 
It often seems, 1 ' he adds, 66 as if the fire rolled down from the 
mountains in large masses, with incredible velocity ; and during 
the clear moonshine nights of November and December, a bright 
blue light is observed at times to cover the whole western range. 
This fire does not consume, and if a person finds himself in the 
middle of it, no warmth is felt.” 
The whole ground/ for about tw^o miles in circuit around 
the principal fire, has the remarkable property of being en- 
flamed by a burning coal, when it is scraped only to the depth 
of tw r o or three inches ; but in this case it does not communi- 
cate fire to the neighbouring ground. If the earth, however, 
is dug up with a spade, and a torch brought near it, an extern 
Geographical Memoir of the Persian Empire, p. 360, 
