'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎142] (163/448)

H
ChiUmynar, or
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ill
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. , ^ n.- vv1 ^ r , T , of a 1 par tied Author, Perfa proprios hah eb ant CharaBeresy qmhodie
S3a?2SS l--~ •' 11 »« •-* *»
infert a few of thefe for better demonftration.
Which neverthelefs whiles they cannot ba read, will in all probability like the
without the help of a Darnel hardly be interpreted. .
Adjoyning thefe is a fpacious room, belt refemblmg a Halli albeit fome think it was
a fervmaMechit or Temple: the dimenfion by the ruinous walls that compafs it may very
well be difcerned. In it there are nineteen columns or Pillars, moft ot which are per-
fed, albeit fome have their Capitals either broken or defacedand upon thofe the Storks
build their nefts, whom Winter weather offends more than do the People who have
them in little lefs than veneration. Thofe that remain entire are (contrary to ufual form)
lharp towards the fummit or top: fo that it is not eafie to guefs what manner of arch or
fuperftrudure it fupported fave what I have defcribed concerning Perfepolis or of what
kind of ftrudure the whole was, whether agreeing with the Ionic, Doric or Corinthiac. In
height thefe Pillars are about twenty cubits,which at theleaft make 30 foot ^ and in com
pafs near three yards and a half,allowing for the intervals betwixt every flute *, for they
are all round and fluted, every Pillar having forty flutes, and every flute three full inches
as I meafured and diftant from each other about nine yards. The capitals have their
mouldings enriched *, the pedeftals alfo wrought into Grotefque with figures, and both
Pillars, Capitals and Pedeftals all of the belt fort of white Marble 5 and ranked in per-
fed order or rows, fuch as we fee in Cathedrals, or in the Halls of Uluftrious Princes.
Now albeit there be but nineteen Pillars at this day extant, yet the fradures and bafes
of other one and twenty more are perfpicable: from whence and from the refemblance
they bear with the Alcoranesy u e. high (lender Turrets which the Mahometans ulually
ered for ufe and ornament near their Mefquits, they term thefe Minars, i. e. Towers: So
as 'tis probable, that forty of thefe Pillars were ftanding fuch time as the Perfians gave
this place that new denomination*, but how long it has been impofed, thole I asked
the queltion of could not fatisfie,the precedent Name being utterly forgotten. Notwith- ■
Itanding this limitation, it is evident there were in all an hundred Pillars when the
place was inperfedion-, as appearsby the vacant fpaces and alfo by the bafes or founda
tions of feveral rows of Columns which are yet vifible j in the whole amounting to
that number.
Hence afcending a few Marble fteps we entred into another large fquare Chamber,
which might be a room of Prefence: 1 paced every fide ( an uncertain but the belt way of
ineafuring I could then make,)and found them fourfcore and ten paces the 4 fides making
three hundred and threefcore paces. Into this large room are eight feveral doors, but
unequal places of entrance: For, I found four of them have fix, the other two four
paces. Each door ftead is compofed of feven well-poliihed black Marble ftones clofe
laid one upon another; every ftone about twelve foot in length, and four foot in height^
which, as alfo the walls and broken arches were wrought or pourtray'd with figures re-
fembling fome great Perfons on horfeback, after whom proceed feveral others in fa-
cerdotal habits bearing branches in their hands, followed by fundry others that lead
along with them Beaits of feveral fpecies •, but whether by way of Triumph or for Sa
crifice, I know not.
Out of this we palfed into another room contiguous to the former; which fome Per
fans in company perfwaded us had been a Nurfery •, other fome that it was part of a
Seraglio. The room is large though unequal in the fides; for I found two were threefcore,
and the other two threefcore and ten of my largeft paces: It had feven doors for en
trance;
_ f