IN THE CHEHEL MINAR. 
641 
centuries, that it is impossible to find the trace of a correspond¬ 
ing range of stairs there. To the south, the whole face of the 
terrace which supports this building, is occupied with another 
superb flight, the landing-place of which embraces nearly forty- 
eight feet, its width ten. Its front is divided by a tablet bearing 
an arrow-headed inscription ; on each side of which stand spear¬ 
men of a gigantic height; their heads and shoulders alone, being 
now visible above the accumulated rubbish round the base of 
the edifice ; but from their large proportions, we may easily 
calculate the rest. 
It is much to be lamented that none of the British ambassadors, 
all of whom have passed through these ruins, (at least, so their 
names on the walls would testify,) did not set their numerous 
followers to work, to clear away some large portions of the 
collected matter, which buries so many valuable documents of 
antiquity; and which, probably, has not been opened since the 
total destruction of the place by the fanatic Arabs. It is only 
persons possessing such an ostensible rank, to whom authority 
would be granted, to explore these ruins to any extent; and, I 
doubt not, that a man of research, under those circumstances, 
clearly explaining his object, would obtain every privilege and 
facility, from the liberality of the present royal family of Persia, 
to dig; but not deface, nor carry away. 
To the north of the building, after ascending its terrace, we 
find an open space (c) of sixty-five feet wide, on which appear 
the foundations of some narrow walls; probably belonging to 
what had been the front of the edifice, now fallen and swelling 
the heaps below. On each side of this space, forty feet towards 
the south, stand two lofty entrances (d d) composed of four 
solid upright blocks of marble, of a colour nearly black j within 
VOL. i. 4 N 
