ISPAHAN. 
433 
element; and rendered doubly grateful by the close shade of 
the noble trees, which shelter the cheering beverage from the 
heating rays of the sun. 
The Sell, or Ali Kapi Gate, is a building of considerable 
elevation, presenting, probably, the most perfect piece of line 
brick-work to be found in the Persian empire. It is divided 
into several stories over the great entrance, and the flights of 
steps which conduct to them are formed of the most beautiful 
variegated porcelain. The first flight leads to a large chamber 
ov^r the gate, open on all sides but one; the roof of which is 
sumptuously gilt and carved, and supported by eighteen lofty 
octagonal pillars; now in a faded state, but formerly richly 
emblazoned with gold, and other brilliant decorations, con¬ 
formable to the splendid remains in the rest of the building. 
In the middle of the floor, is a large marble square cistern and 
fountain ; both of which drew their waters, by means of ma¬ 
chinery, from the canal below. 
On the side of this spacious Mirador , (for so we may call it, as 
it looked out in almost every direction,) which is nearest to the 
balustrade facing the Maidan, a raised platform marks the spot 
on which the great Shah Abbas used to place his royal seat; 
and thence review his chivalry, galloping and skirmishing 
beneath; or, in something of the Roman style, witness the combats 
of wild and ferocious animals. I say Roman, but the “ lions’ 
den” of Darius the Mede, sufficiently shows that such pastimes 
were in vogue in Persia, long before Rome had set the example. 
One of the more modern sports under the Sefi race, was that of 
the nobility displaying their address in shooting at an object 
fixed on the top of a high pole, (like the popinjay of our 
ancestors ;) and which pole, once the cynosure of so many anxious 
3 K 
VOL. I. 
