456 
YEZDIKHAST. 
good Mussulman, Ali Keza, a relation of the Prophet. A few 
hundred yards farther, brought us suddenly to the brink of a 
frightful precipice, forming one side of the gigantic ravine, or 
rather narrow and steep valley of Yezdikhast. 
In the bosom of this sequestered, and wildly romantic dell, 
a mass of high rock presents itself, perfectly detached from 
either side of the mountain chasm ; and along its rugged sum¬ 
mit, we saw the town and fortress of Yezdikhast. The approach 
is inaccessible, except by a draw-bridge, at the north-west side, 
which is thrown over a deep ditch, and allows communication 
between the place and the valley. The rock on which it stands 
is perpendicular on all its faces, presenting a very grand object, 
surmounted as it is with this embattled town. At the foot of 
the rock, a prodigious number of subterraneous chambers of dif¬ 
ferent dimensions extend themselves ; evidently the work of man, 
and excavated in the side of the cliff. A small stream washes its 
base, and winds thence north-east through the valley. When viewed 
from the top of the precipice, the peculiar form and disposition 
of its rocks, gave the scene an extraordinary appearance of 
wildness, though without any degree of savage roughness. But 
when we entered the dell itself, and saw objects near, then we 
found rich cultivation, and every sign of man’s industry, mingling 
rural beauties with the untameable picturesque of nature. Its 
long tracts of waving corn, interspersed with the finest fruit- 
trees, produced a delightful contrast to the arid waste we had so 
lately traversed. Having descended into the valley, we cross¬ 
ed it eastward, at a little distance from the town, and took up 
our quarters at a caravansary of the Sefi age, in excellent re¬ 
pair. The Ameen-a-Doulah had restored it to its present state; 
and we found ourselves comfortably reposing within its cool 
