CARAVANSARY AT GUZ. 
401 
yards on every side, flanked by four towers, of a diameter so 
disproportioned to the length of the intervening walls, as not to 
exceed nine feet. Within these walls are the buildings which 
form the accommodations of the caravan. On entering the great 
gate, the first object that presents itself, is a kind of piazza, 
which extends itself on every side of the interior of the qua¬ 
drangle, leaving a noble area, or court, in the middle. These 
piazzas are subdivided into lofty arched apartments, open in 
front, and all neatly paved. At ten feet within each of these, is 
another chamber, fifteen feet deep, and containing, at its farther 
end, a fire-place, besides several little compartments cut out 
of the thickness of the wall, called topshehs, or cupboards, 
which are deemed indispensables in every Persian room. This 
interior chamber is seldom resorted to before winter ; the outer 
one, open to the court, being considered the summer apartment, 
from the advantage it affords of breathing the free, incommoded 
air. The traveller spreads his nummud upon the paved floor ; 
fitting it up with bedding according to his own idea of comfort; 
but nothing is really necessary, beyond a pillow, with a sheet 
for the warmest nights, and a quilt for the cool. Immediately 
behind this double range of chambers, runs an open space or 
lane, in like manner following the quadrangular sweep of the 
building; the hinder side of the lane, (that is, the one nearest 
the wall of the caravansary,) being an arcade also ; and divided 
into cell-like apartments, for the use of servants, muleteers, 
and other persons, wishing to keep station near their cattle ; 
which are generally stabled in the lane, between the front of this 
last arcade, and the back of the one first described. Sometimes, 
when the caravansary is very full, the animals are picketed in 
the great court, while their attendants sleep on a large elevated 
VOL. j. 3 v 
