SECOND VISIT TO ISPAHAN. 
37 
hension of human traverses out of our heads; perpendicular 
precipices, and fathomless darkness, opening before us at every 
step. The ascent had been terrific when we accomplished it in 
our way to Shiraz j but the difficulties of its descent were tenfold 
dangerous. These, too, however, were surmounted without acci¬ 
dent ; and having reached the plain of Ispahan, we did not take 
the main road to that capital, but leaving it on our left, in about 
a couple of hours arrived at the village of Ispanek, computed at 
six farsangs from Mayar. Here we halted ; but having only eight 
miles farther to go to reach Ispahan itself, we rose next morn- 
in" before the sun, and in two hours found ourselves in view of 
the old Sefean capital. 
August 24th. — The approach to the southern side of the city 
is infinitely more magnificent than the entrance on the north. 
Amongst the first objects that struck our eyes in the present 
view, were the numerous nobly-constructed bridges, each carry¬ 
ing its long level line of thickly-ranged arches, to porch-like 
structures of the finest elevations; some fallen into stately ruin ; 
others nearly entire; but all exhibiting splendid memorials of 
the triumphal ages of the Sefi race. These bridges, once the 
scenes of many a glorious cavalcade of prince and people, were 
now, though deserted, still unimpaired, and indeed superb 
prologues to tenantless palaces, and a city in ruins. All spoke of 
the gorgeous, populous past; but all that remained in present life, 
seemed lost in silence, shrinking from the increasing flame of a 
morning sun that burnt like mid-day. Happily, a covert path pre¬ 
sented itself; and after enjoying our ride beneath the cool arcades 
of its long mouldering cloisters, we entered the southern gate 
of the town, and immediately came out into one of those um¬ 
brageous avenues of trees which render the interior of Ispahan 
.v 
