298 MOUNDS OF THE FIRE-WORSHIPPERS. 
surrounded by fine gardens; the whole being enclosed in a 
strong wall. 
We left Suffer-Kajar at seven o’clock next morning, still tra¬ 
versing the plain in a south-easterly direction. The country, 
though so extensive, changed nothing of its appearance, except¬ 
ing that the artificial hills stood thicker, as we departed farther 
from the mountains. The lofty ridge of that part of the Elborz, 
at whose feet the celebrated city of Rages or Rey stands, grew 
in magnitude on our sight; as we crossed this magnificent vale, 
which divides that sublime chain into two ranges of mountains. 
The weather was delightfully pleasant, and every thing breathed 
the air of spring. 
Having proceeded rather more than three farsangs, I perceived 
a mound, at some little distance from the high road, of greater 
altitude than any of the former I had observed; and which had 
the additional peculiarity of uneven ground about its base, and 
the vestiges of stone building. As we approached, I enquired 
of Abbas Mirza, by whose side I had the honour to be riding, 
what he thought of the origin of those heaps of earth. He had 
no doubt of their having been raised by man; but by whom, 
and for what purpose, he said, he knew of no written nor tra¬ 
ditionary account. But he supposed they were the work of the 
Fire-worsliippers of former ages, who usually erected their altars 
on high places; and there being none, naturally, so many far¬ 
sangs from the hills, these idolaters had constructed mounds to 
supply the deficiency. When that worship was discountenanced 
by “ the true faith,” he thought it probable, the people of the 
land would turn that vantage-ground to purposes of defence; 
and rear their villages near, if not round each conical hill. These 
suppositions seemed the more likely, from the circumstances of the 
