'A New Account of East-India and Persia, in Eight Letters. Being Nine Years Travels, Begun 1672. And Finished 1681. Containing Observations made of the Moral, Natural, and Artificial Estate of Those Countries: Namely, of their Government, Religion, Laws, Customs. Of the Soil, Climates, Seasons, Health, Diseases. Of the Animals, Vegetables, Minerals, Jewels. Of their Housing, Cloathing, Manufactures, Trades, Commodities. And of the Coins, Weights, and Measures, Used in the Principal Places of Trade in Those Parts.' [‎251] (298/506)

Travels into P E R S I, A.
251
Tale;, which I mention for this end, that the true Appellation the
Ferfiam now give them, and their Reafon for it may be recovered.
The Bridge over the River is very old, raifed high by four Arches,
in the middle a Watch-Tower for the Rhadars to look out on, to ap
prehend fuch as fhall by By-ways attempt to deprive them of their
Cuftoms, as alfo to be at hand to fecure thofe that Travel the Road.
Unlefs fometimes they connive at Excurfions for their own Booty,
as this Day we had caufe to fufped:; for this Evening the Rear of
our Gaphala we had taken with us, being only Servants with Arms
C the other coming more leifurely, kept the diredRoad), were fet
upon twice; but finding them in a condition to receive them, they
wheeled off in the Dusk, but with an intention to take us napping
when we were in our Lodgings at Meergofcoon, Twelve Mile off the
Bridge, fmooth Way, full of Farms and Country Towns; among
which Plain dealing feems moft an end to be their only Guard ; for
they being alarmed by the Rogues that dogged us, rofe immediately
in our defence, and gave us notice of our Danger, after one of the
Villains, on pretence to light his Pipe, had rudely broke in upon us,
to difcover in what Poflure we were, who perceiving their Pains
would be only Blows, gave us no farther difturbance.
However we were the more willing on this account to get up by
the crowing of the Cock, to purfue our Journy to whofe
Ruins we had reached by Break of Day; when having compafled
its Marble Foundations ( being above, an Area of a large Extent, on
the Plain an high Wall, giving fome Pains to the attollent Mufcles of
the Neck, to give the Eyes leave to reach its Height), weclambred
a fpacious Staircafe united fome part of the Way up, when on each
hand it led to the feveral Apartments two different Ways; at top
were the Portals, and the Heads of the Columns worn with Age
{damnofa entrn quid non tmminmt dies ) which confumes every thing;
whofe Bodies were Corinthian, but the Pedeftals and Capitals of Do-
rick Order, as might be gained from what had refifted the corroding
Jaws of Time, hardly lifting up their Reverend Crowns, though
of moft durable Stone.
Being entred the Fcmcerium of Cambyfes Hall ( if Faith be to be
given to the moft Learned of thefe Relators ), at the Hall Gates we
encountred two horrid Shapes both for Grandeur and Unwbntednels,
being all in Armour, or Coat of Mail, ftriking a Terror on thofe
about to intrude; their Countenances were of the fierceft Lions,
and might pafs for fuch, had not huge Wings made them flying Gryf-
fons, and their Bulk and Hinder-Parts exceeded the largeft Ele
phants.
In this Auguft Place only Eighteen Pillars of Forty remain, about
Fifty Foot high, and half an Ell Diameter, of the diftance of eight
Paces one from another, though we ^ould count the Twenty two
Bafes *, which agree with the Perfian Memoirs, who therefore ftill
call it Chulminor, The Palace of Forty Pillars: Thefe may be feen on
the Plain a great way, and at prefent are the Refidence only of the
Tyrants of the Lakes and Fens, Storks only keeping their Court
here, every Pillar having a Neft of them.
Chap. IV.
We fufpeft
the Rhadars to
be Robbers ac
Meergofeoon,
Perfepolis now
Qhuknimr,
Storks build
on the Pillars.
rili
Kk
Nut r it