392 
MAGNIFICENT CARAVANSARY. 
different scene, a magnificent caravansary, of the superb age of 
Abbas the Great. The bold, untameable regions by which it 
was surrounded, were in noble harmony with the vastness of its 
dimensions, and the grandeur of its form, massy, lofty, and 
castellated. It stood on a commanding position of the rock, 
looking upon the cliffs above, and the deep ravine beneath, with 
the proud aspect of a mountain fortress. The clear, pale moon ; 
the huge black and impending crags which towered over the 
majestic pile ; the roaring of the unseen waters, rushing amidst 
the deeply rent chasm, fathomless to the eye, from the dark 
shadows of night; the stillness of every thing but those waters ; 
all gave an impression of the true sublime ; solemn, vast, and 
mysterious. 
On quitting these scenes, we descended between the closely 
contracting heights, into a very narrow valley, or rather, I might 
call it, a deep rocky ravine, at the bottom of which dashed a 
full and rapid stream. The way was rough and hazardous, from 
the broken fragments which lay across it from the mountain’s 
sides. We pursued this rugged track for nearly six miles, with 
one still more fatiguing and perilous in view. It began by pre¬ 
senting to us a mere path, scarcely wide enough for a foot- 
passenger ; and commencing at a point where the valley ter¬ 
minated in a tremendous abyss; its depth on one side, and a 
precipitous mountain on the other. Our new and dangerous 
way, led direct to the summit of this mountain. 
It seemed prudent to halt a short while, to rest ourselves and 
our horses, and to tighten the baggage on the backs of our 
mules ; having, from necessity, walked them nearly the whole of 
the last six miles. By the time we had completed our arrange¬ 
ments, the morning was beginning to dawn j and its roseate 
