SHIRAZ TO PERSEPOLIS. 
im 
have been scarcely intended to admit light; as (at this day, at least) 
they are each closely fitted with a stone. A small niche is over the door. 
A cornice, enriched with dentils, passes around the summit; and in the 
lines, where the stones have been fitted, oblong perpendicular incisions 
are made at regular intervals. The people call it a pigeon-house. The 
plain is covered with the wild liquorice; and we plucked some of re¬ 
freshing taste on the banks of a stream, which (about a mile from the 
sculptures and tombs) turns a mill on the left of our encampment. We 
started snipes and ducks from the Rood- KhnneJi-Semund, which runs 
into the plain from the northward. 
As we had still two hours of daylight before us, we rode to Perse - 
polls, and took a cursory view of the ruins. Our first, and indeed 
lasting impressions were astonishment at the immensity, and admira¬ 
tion at the beauties of the fabric. Although there was nothing, either 
in the architecture of the buildings, or in the sculptures and reliefs on 
the rocks, which could bear a critical comparison with the delicate pro¬ 
portions and perfect statuary of the Greeks, yet, without trying Perse - 
polls by a standard to which it never was amenable, we yielded at once 
to emotions the most lively and the most enraptured. 
At the distance of about five miles is a conspicuous hill, on the top 
of which, and visible to the eye from Persepolis, are the remains of a 
fortress. This hill is now called Istakhar , and is quite distinct from 
Persepolis. Persepolis itself is commonly styled by the people of the 
country “ Takht Jemsheed” or the throne of Jem she ed: it is also 
called “ Chehel Minar,” or the Forty Pillars. Le Brun has given a 
drawing of this hill of Istakhar; and the original must strike every 
traveller the moment he enters the plain of Merdasht, as it has all the 
appearance of having been much fashioned by the hand of man. 
Jan. 15th. After reading prayers to our society, I hastened to 
the ruins. I went on this principle, that I would endeavour to 
draw and ascertain all that former travellers had omitted; and for 
that purpose I took Chardin and Le Brun in my hand, that 
I might complete all that I found wanting in their views and 
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