32 
THE AUTHOR’S DISAPPOINTMENT. 
point of view, to a true follower of the prophet; no difference 
could justly be drawn between a Christian and a Guebre ; and, 
therefore, the marble being more the property of the Frangy 
than of the Moollah, the Frangy had every right to see it.” This 
ingenious argument had the desired effect; the Moollah declared 
himself ready to attend me ; and taking leave, with reiterated 
thanks, of my kind advocate, I proceeded to the mosque with 
my conductor. But my disappointment was fully equal to my 
curiosity, when I found the reported piece of antiquity nothing 
more than what had been the base of a round column of white 
marble, stuck flat-way against the wall of the mosque ; its surface 
bearing the rough marks of the chissel, the imagination of the 
priest had construed them into ancient hieroglyphics and cha¬ 
racters. He told me, it was discovered in the town, amongst 
similar fragments ; but none in such legible preservation, as he 
had supposed the writing on this to be. The size of the slab is 
large, and must have been the base of a considerable column ; 
which probably formed one of the portico or colonnade of some 
superb temple of Yezdikast’s ancient days. The commanding 
situation of the town, being on the bounding line between two 
long-celebrated countries, would alone be a presumption for the 
antiquity of its station ; but tradition testifies that it was so, and 
these remains support the evidence. Eben Haukel does not 
mention Yezdikast by name ; but omissions are no grounds for 
conclusive arguments. 
August 20th. On the afternoon of this day, at four o’clock, 
we set forth from the valley of Yezdikast; and reached Mexio- 
beggy at ten. I was now retravelling the same road I had passed 
over hardly three months before, therefore shall not repeat de¬ 
scriptions of the country; but, during our way thither, we were 
