CAVES. 
51 
There is something very striking in this mode of making rocks and 
mountains bear record to the actions of Kings, and become as it were 
the archives of their history. 
In the hopes of discovering some of the wonders that had been 
described to us, two or three of our party ascended to a cavern, 
situated near the sculptures. We found only a natural cavity of great 
magnitude, perhaps one hundred and fifty feet in height, whose inte¬ 
rior was wildly heaped with huge masses of fallen rock, serving as an 
habitation to wild beasts and to wild pigeons, of which large flocks flew 
out as we entered. These caverns are great conveniences to shepherds, 
who frequently drive their flocks into them at night, and enclose them 
by heaping up walls of loose stones. We explored all its parts, but 
saw no traces of human workmanship; and when we came to its 
deepest recess, the darkness was such as to hinder any further re¬ 
search; but on turning about to descend, the effect of the strong light 
of the sun, contrasting with the deep shades of the cavern, was truly 
striking. 
During all this time, our Mehmandar had been hunting in the vici¬ 
nity. It is usual with Persian noblemen, whenever they either travel 
or ride abroad for pleasure, to be accompanied by their hawksmen and 
hawks ; and as the country about Shapour abounds with partridges, the 
hawksmen had succeeded to kill a great number. The Khan seemed 
quite astonished that we should take such great interest in inspecting 
ruins and sculptured rocks; and whilst he left us to explore them at 
our leisure, tired with the chace he alighted from his horse, and spent 
the time until our return in roasting a lamb, which he did by cutting it 
into small pieces, and sticking them on the iron ramrod of his gun, 
that served him for a spit. When the meat was roasted, he mounted 
his horse, and with the ramrod in his hand and the meat still upon it, 
he rode about, and in very good humour offered to each of us an hand¬ 
ful, teaching us at once a new mode of camp-cookery, and what little 
preparation is necessary for tlie food of those who have no other end 
in eating than to relieve hunger. 
When we had finished our researches, we returned to our camp at 
H 2 
