INSCRIPTION. 
81 
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(/^ ^ 3 ^ X N') Jy ^ N 
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n \\/>m-y ,',jr),nXiPy<>)-^‘m JJ^y'3 M^OU 
y'j/n H^-^~>y L'^y^ 
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omitted because they were more effaced than the rest, and also more 
distant from my eye. The stone upon which these inscriptions are 
carved is the same as that of Nakshi Rustam, of hard grain and bearing 
a fine polish. Indeed all this chain of mountain is composed of the 
same rock, and produces a strong-featured view, which inspires more 
of the sublime than the beautiful. 
The third cavern, still to the right of that just described, is the 
one celebrated for its great depth. None of the Persians who ac¬ 
companied me were at all anxious to be the foremost to enter this 
dark abode, fearing, as they said, a rencontre with either a wild beast or 
a devil; and therefore it fell to me to walk the first, which I did, carry¬ 
ing the light in my hand. We saw nothing artificial; and pro¬ 
ceeding with too much zeal in the hope of making a discovery, on a 
sudden I fell my whole length on the slippery rock, my candle went 
out, and I and my Persians were left in utter darkness. We groped 
our way out as well as we could, without having ascertained the extent' 
of the cavern ; and finding that I had hurt my leg severely in the fall, 
and that we could not make a second attempt without great delay, we 
thought it best to return to our garden at Persepolis with all speed. I 
M 
