142 
PERSEPOLIS TO ISPAHAN. 
of shafts, bases, and capitals of the same dimensions as the upright 
column, and all, together with it, of the same description as those at 
Persepolis. Several large blocks are arranged about, as the fragments 
of some building. The column is fluted like the Doric, but with lines 
more closely connected: it is one foot eight inches in diameter at the 
bottom, and six inches less at the top: the height is a little above 
seventeen feet; and the base, including a tore next the shaft, is two 
feet more. The legs and bodies of the sphinxes are in two separate 
blocks. The largest of the adjacent blocks erect is seven feet two inches 
broad, and eleven feet eight inches high. Nakski Rustam bore N. 50. 
W. from this place. A little further on is the ruin of a large pillar not 
fluted, and the fragments of a sphinx which certainly had been the 
capital. These remains, according to my companion's tradition, were 
the site of Jemsheed's harem. 
We returned to the road which led through a dilapidated but massy 
gate, situated at the extremity of the projecting foot of the mountains. 
In the centre of the road are three stones; that in the middle is a broken 
column, and the two between which it stands are of a columnar form. 
It has, probably, been a beautiful object. The rocks to the left (a 
marble of the same kind as that at Nakshi Rustajn) bear evident marks 
of having been worked and excavated. The road led us over a soil, as 
fine as that of the plain of Merdasht, watered by the Rood KhonSh 
Semmd. Having reached the extremity of that range, on the Western 
point of which are the sculptures of Nakshi Rustam, we turned to the 
left at a village called Seidoun. At the foot of an abrupt part of the 
mountain on the right, but still at a considerable ascent from the plain, 
is situated the village of Semmd. Our encampment was below, near 
the banks of the stream of that name. The snipes, ducks, herons, 
and bitterns from these quarters made an admirable addition to the 
luxury of our table. The march of this day was called three fur- 
sungs, which we computed at thirteen miles. 
18th. We continued our journey along the banks with a North wind 
fresh in our faces, and crossed the river about half a mile from our 
