92 
ELWUND, OR ORONTES. 
tered by beautiful rivulets. On the south-west, Orontes, or El- 
wund, (by which ever name we may designate this most towering 
division of the mountain,) presents itself, in all the stupendous 
grandeur of its fame and form. Near to its base, appear the dark- 
coloured dwellings of Hamadan, crowded thickly on each other; 
while the gardens of the inhabitants, with their connecting 
orchards and woods, fringe the entire slope of that part of the 
mountain. Its higher regions exhibit every variety of pic¬ 
turesque forms, and indigenous vegetable production, whether 
in scent or hue ; while from its rocky crest the brightness of the 
risen sun was reflected, mingling its rays with the brilliantly 
clear springs which wind in rills amongst its upland paths ; or 
roll in accumulated streams, down upon the plain below, in¬ 
viting, and assisting the hand of industry. If the aspect of this 
part of the country now presents so rich a picture, “ when its 
palaces are no more!” what must it have been when Astyages 
held his court here ; and Cyrus, in his yearly courses from Per- 
sepolis, Susa, and Babylon, stretched his golden sceptre over 
this delicious plain? Well might such a garden of nature’s 
bounties be the favourite seat of kings, the nursery of the arts, 
and all the graceful courteseys of life: every thing was here, to 
incline the mind to urbanity, taste, and elegance; to endear his 
country to the brave Mede; and to polish the manners, which 
Heaven had fated, from the time of Cyrus, to be long the model 
of nations. It does not appear from history, notwithstanding all 
the courtly graces of the Medes, and the splendour of their dress, 
that either they, or the Persians who adopted their habit and de¬ 
meanour, were voluptuous or effeminate and consequently de¬ 
based, till a lengthened intimacy with the Babylonians, whom 
they had subdued, degraded their characters by contamination 
