510 
CAVES FOR MEDITATION. 
consists of a cluster of fortified houses, standing close under the 
hills in that quarter ; above them shoot the rough and ragged 
cliffs. We arrived at half past ten o’clock. The road I was 
persuaded to leave, makes the distance from Mourg-aub four 
farsangs, but it is by far the best. 
June 16tli. We left our quarters this morning at four o’clock, 
taking a course down the vale nearly due west; the boundaries 
on both sides, of craggy naked cliffs, forming a bold contrast to 
the enamelled verdure below. Having ridden about four 
miles, we arrived at the base of a small insulated hill, scattered 
over with the remains of walls of the old mud fabric ; and said 
to be the ruins of oile of the many hunting-seats with which 
Baharam Gour filled this fine part of his dominions, distinguishing 
each place by the name of red, black, yellow, or white castle. 
Immediately opposite to it, we found a deep cavern, containing 
two or three interior caves, whence issues a particularly trans¬ 
lucent spring. The natives around told us, that it was formerly 
inhabited by a succession of holy persons. Innumerable old 
lamps still left in the place, testify something of the story. 
Besides, the situation, as a retreat for religious abstraction, is 
perfectly in character with the ideas of the ancients : retiring to 
the vicinity of fountains, to perform pious or philosophical vigils, 
and to converse with the spiritual world, was a common custom 
from the earliest times, both amongst the pagans of Europe and 
of Asia. We find Numa, at the fount of Egeria; and Kai 
Khoosroo (as Ferdoussi tells us,) laying aside the diadem of 
Iran, to immure himself in divine contemplations, in a cave 
watered by a sacred spring. Water, indeed, appears a very 
reasonable companion to these hermits; first, as an emblem of 
the purification they seek; and secondly, as one of the only 
