594 
CHEHEL-MINAR, OR 
that has collected over it. Subterraneous aqueducts filled it 
with water ; and as another of these channels runs in a parallel 
line to the west, it is probable that a corresponding reservoir 
may have been in that direction. 
On drawing near the Chehel-minar , or Palace of Forty Pillars, 
which is the name given to this splendid division of ruins, the 
eye is riveted by the grandeur and beautiful decorations of the 
flights of steps which lead up to them. This superb approach 
consists of a double staircase, projecting considerably before 
the northern face of the terrace, the whole length of which is 
two hundred and twelve feet; and at each extremity, east and 
west, rises another range of steps : again, about the middle, 
projecting from it eighteen feet, appear two smaller flights rising 
from the same points. Here the extent of the range, including 
a landing-place of twenty feet, amounts to eighty-six. The 
ascent, like that of the great entrance from the plain, is ex¬ 
tremely gradual; each flight containing only thirty low steps, 
none exceeding four inches in height, in breadth fourteen inches, 
and in length sixteen feet. The whole front of the advanced 
range is covered with sculpture. The eye, at first, roves over 
it, lost in the multitude of figures, and bewildered by the 
thronging ideas instantly associated with the crowd of various 
interesting objects before it. But I took time to distinguish 
every figure, to examine all its peculiarities, and to copy them 
as distinctly as I could; (Plate XXXIV.) and this drawing being 
done to a regular scale, with a description in explanation, will, 
I hope, give some just impression of the general aspect of so 
magnificent a piece of work. 
The space immediately under the landing-place is divided 
into three compartments. The centre one has a plain surface, as 
