BAS-RELIEFS. 
653 
carrying a cup, or goblet. He is followed by a man in a short 
tunic and leathern belt round his waist. This person wears a 
very singularly shaped cap, nearly covering his bushy hair 
behind, and totally veiling both his mouth and beard. With 
his left hand he grasps the horn of an animal resembling the 
mountain-goat of the country, and rests his right upon its neck. 
The sculptor has given this beast but one horn, which issues 
from the middle of the forehead, and in form like that of the 
Ibex. The windows (11 o o) are all ornamented with three bas- 
relief figures following each other, and every one facing inwards, 
as if going to the same spot; but what several of them carry in 
their hands, is now undistinguishable. The leading person in 
all these groups, is dressed exactly like the man with the cup 
before the goat, and the people who follow, in the habit of the 
man who holds the animal. One of these leaders supports a 
tray on both hands, on which rests a shape not unlike a skin of 
wine, or it may be a cloth thrown over some choice viands on 
the tray. The persons after him carry, with a peculiar grace of 
action, each a covered vessel of a form that denotes the contents 
being for repast. Indeed, I have seen resembling dishes now in 
Persia, holding rice and little roasts, or kababs. This suite of 
the apartments I should therefore think, might originally have 
been appropriated to the private table of the sovereign and his 
family ; while the division, now no more, was dedicated to feasts 
of state, and other entertainments : and, in that case, this very 
building might have been that occupied by Alexander after his 
return from India. 
Xenophon mentions, that in addressing a superior, the 
speaker generally held his hand to his mouth, that his breath 
might not be disagreeable to his auditor ; possibly, the serving- 
