162 
LEAVES BE-SITOON. 
of phylacteries, on different parts of their raiment. What those 
may mean, which cover the garment of this figure, we have no 
means of explaining, till the diligent researches of the learned 
may be able to decipher the arrow-headed character; and then 
a full light would be thrown on the whole history, by expound¬ 
ing the tablets over every head. If the aerial form above, were 
ever intended to represent the heavenly apparition of a departed 
king, which is the opinion of some, that of the great Arbaces 
might appear here with striking propriety, at the final conquest 
of rebellious Israel. Should the discoveries of time prove my 
conjecture at all right, this bas-relief must be nearly two hun¬ 
dred years older than any which are ascribed to Cyrus at 
Persepolis or Pasargadas. 
Having seen in the travels of Olivier an engraving of the 
capital of a column, said to be discovered near the river at Be- 
Sitoon, I diligently enquired, and sought, for such a relic all 
along its banks, but in vain; which I the more regretted, having 
observed enough in the sketch, almost to assure me that the 
style and proportions of the original might afford me just 
grounds of tracing its order to those of Ecbatana and Persepolis. 
Indeed I traversed the borders of the river in every direction, 
but no other vestige of any sort of ancient building, but that 
attached to the terrace of the mountain, already described, could 
be any where seen. The natives, indeed, talk of some vast city, 
full of palaces and temples, having flourished there in early time. 
But if so, all is now clean swept away. Yet, from the remains 
which do exist, both in sculpture and excavation, when united 
with the written accounts that have been connected with the spot, 
I should be inclined to consider Be-Sitoon a local corruption of 
Bagistan, the place of the garden; and that some superb summer- 
