A TRAIN OF CAPTIVES. 
157 
their necks, which (as I noted before) runs onward, noosing 
all the remaining eight in one string. This last described person 
has the great peculiarity attached to him, of the skirt of his gar¬ 
ment being covered entirely with inscription in the arrow-headed 
character. Next follows one in a long vestment, with full hair, 
without the caul. Then another in a short plain tunic, with 
trowsers. Then succeeds a second long vestment. After him, 
comes one in a short tunic, with naked legs, and, apparently, a 
perfectly bald head. He is followed by another in long vest¬ 
ments. But the ninth, and last in the group, who, also, is in 
the short tunic and trowser, has the singularity of wearing a 
prodigious high pointed cap; his beard and hair are much ampler 
than any of his companions, and his face looks of a greater age. 
In the air, over the heads of the center figures, appears the 
floating intelligence in his circle and car of sun beams, so often 
remarked on the sculptures of Nakshi-Roustam and Persepolis. 
Above the head of each individual in this bas-relief, is a com¬ 
partment with an inscription in the arrow-headed writing, most 
probably descriptive of the character and situation of each 
person. And, immediately below the sculpture, are two lines 
in the same language, running the whole length of the group. 
Under these again, the excavation is continued to a considerable 
extent, containing eight deep and closely written columns in the 
same character. From so much labour having been exerted on 
this part of the work, it excites more regret that so little progress 
has yet been made towards deciphering the character ; and most 
devoutly must we hope, that the indefatigable scholars now en¬ 
gaged in the study of these apparently oldest letters in the 
world, may at last succeed in bringing them to an intelligible 
language. In that case, what a treasure-house of historical 
