Vlll 
PREFACE. 
servations, to be put in possession of an accurate description of 
the ancient Persian bow, its shape, and the manner of attaching 
its string ; and, indeed, from your remarks and sketches, to be 
enabled to judge which of the three above-mentioned travellers 
are, on the whole, most correct in their drawings of the remains 
at Persepolis and Mourg-aub. By looking at my next plate, you 
will perceive the errors which appear to have crept into the copy 
given of the inscription in Persepolitan letters, found amidst the 
ruins at Mourg-aub.* I also anticipate your shewing us the 
precise form of the Pehlivi and Zend characters ; and, perhaps, 
you may find it in your power to give a true explanation of the 
Persian belt or distich, engraved on the gold ring that was found 
in the ancient city of Torjok, in the great road from St. Peters- 
burgh to Moscow. The ring is in the possession of His Imperial 
Majesty; and you will find it represented on my fifth plate. 
“ In conclusion, I repeat, draw only what you see ! Correct 
nothing; and preserve, in your copies, the true character of the 
originals. Do not give to Persian figures a French tournure , like 
Chardin ; nor a Dutch, like Van Bruyn, (Le Brun ;) nor a Ger¬ 
man, or rather Danish, like Niebuhr; nor an English grace, 
like some of your countrymen ; in your portraits of the frag¬ 
ments at Nakshi-Roustam. Adieu. 
“ Your faithful Friend and Cousin, 
“A. Olinen.” 
* See Sir R. K. Porter’s copy of the same inscription, Plate XIII. It may be 
useful to my general readers, to mention here, that the appellations “ Persepolitan,” 
“ cuneiform,” e 5 arrow-headed, nail-headed ’ characters, all mean the same style of 
writing; mostly found at Persepolis and Babylon. 
