THIRD BAS-RELIEF. 
541 
to the strap that passes under the tail, and lies on the flank. 
The tail itself is curiously twisted with ribbands, and garnished 
with floating ends. A chain, coming from under the seat of the 
figure, and hanging down over the side of the horse, sustains a 
large tassel; which is so perfectly represented as to allow me to 
describe it particularly. It seems to have been nothing more 
than a quantity of hair, silk, or probably gold fringe, issuing from 
an acorn-like head; forming a singular appendage to equestrian 
trappings ; but I should presume a useful one, to disperse, by its 
motion, flies from annoying the horse. 
Behind the royal figure, stands a man holding his right hand 
up, in the attitude of enjoining silence. A round-topped cap 
covers his head, with a sort of badge on its side, like part of a 
flower. Several close braids of hair hang from beneath it. The 
face is considerably damaged; but, certainly, never had beard nor 
mustachios ; and looks more like a eunuch than a woman, which 
probably he was, and as likely one of that order of attendants, 
which used to be denominated mutes. The third figure in the first 
bas-relief appears to have the same character; only half of this 
person is seen, from the chest upwards ; the rest being covered 
with a large open scroll, on which an inscription is written in Peh- 
livi characters, very full, but much defaced. It consists of seventy- 
eight lines. I copied two or three of them, to preserve a memo¬ 
randum of the writing; and have to lament that it was not in my 
power to accomplish more. I can have no doubt that it con¬ 
tained the history of the subject in question. The length of the 
scroll is eight feet, and the inscription covers half its surface. 
There are two figures near the head of the horse, habited in 
the Roman garb, their heads bound with chaplets of laurel. I 
have already mentioned that the royal personage on horseback 
