'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎207] (238/582)

ISPAHAN. 207
visions had followed, which was felt by almost every class of the
citizens.
The bridge by which we crossed this river, as well as seve
ral others thrown over the stream, and seen by us in passing
both on our right and left, was the work of Shah Abbas the Great,
to whom almost all the improvements and embellishments of
Ispahan are ascribed. None of these works are raised in the
centre, as bridges usually are; they form merely a sort of elevated
road, continued in a straight line, and perfect level, across the
stream. The foundations and supports to this road are, however,
a series of pointed arches, with fine paved platforms between
them; so that while the stream has free passage through the
arches, there is great strength secured to the structure, by the
raised way that divides them.
The road of the bridge is sufficiently wide to admit the
passage of ten horsemen abreast; it is well paved, has a high wall,
adorned with arched recesses on each side ; and beyond these is a
covered way for foot-passengers, with small chambers of repose,
and fountains for the thirsty, placed at regular intervals. The
platform of the basement is constructed of large hewn stones, and
the upper part is formed of burnt bricks; the style of the archi
tecture is Saracenic throughout, though the ornament of coloured
tiles is purely Persian. As a whole, whether viewed from a dis
tance, or in passing over it, it seemed to me equal to many of our
best English bridges, and was decidedly superior to any similar
structure that I had yet seen in the East.
Immediately before us, as we entered on the garden land be
yond the bridge, was a high and broken mountain hanging over
the quarter of Julfa ; half-way up the side of which, was pointed
out a ruined fire-temple of the ancient Persians ; and above this
was seen a large excavation in the face of the rock, apparently in
tended for the site of some extensive work, abandoned before its
completion. Still to the westward of this, on another hill, was
seen a similar temple of the fire-worshippers of antiquity; and