'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.' [‎149] (170/448)

Terfepolis. RuftanV M
more fpight, than either length of time, injury of weather or hoftile rage ever could
effed. Non temym edax rerum, non terra-mot us, nec hoftile s injuria tot faculorum fp6cio 0 fo~
lidimem ejm adificii convellere fotuerant. Nam exrupe folida vel ex quadrat is marmorumfa-
xis it a compattum eft, ut ex mo lapide vide at ur, & vix jmtturas oftendity faith an Obfer-
ver. Neverthelefs, I may here with thankfulnefs acknowledge,how that upon my propo-
fing it fome years fmce unto that great Mecanas of antiquity the late noble Lord Thomas
Earl of Arundel, He was fo fenfible thereof, as to that end he dilpached a Youth thither
whom Mr. Nor gate recommended to his Lordihip for one he knew could both defign
and copy well; But I hear he died by the way at or near Surat, before he could reach
ferfia \ fo as that worthy endeavour became fruftrate. To proceed.
Little more than a mile hence is Mardajh, which in a Spanish reporter I find writ
Mar gate an, and in an Italian Mehrchoafcon, very much differing from the right pronun
ciation. 'Tis a Village confiding of near two hundred Houfes, fuch as they be •, the
People of which place were fo tranfcendently fuperftitious, that (uponnotice we were
Chriftians and not Mujftdmen according to their Alcoran) what ground we trod or what
places we entred, at our departure they fifted alhes and duft, apprehending we had pol
luted the earth by reafon of our profeffion*, which being done in our fight made ug fome
paftime. This and the Neighbouring Villages for that they are watered by Aquaduds
forced from the River Kur or El-Chyr(ovQr which upon the Bindemyr, a Bridge fo called,
we rode in the way from Shyraz. to PerfepolisJ feem very delightful places, the Gardens
and Fields by that refreihment appearing at moft feafons extraordinary pleafant and
fruitful in variety of Flowers and Fruits and Corn. Neverthelefs by thofe fluces (the
mode of thofe parts) the main Channel is fo ftraitned, that in feveral places 'tis very
hardly difcernable.
Northwards about three JEngiiftj miles from Chyl-manor at the foot of that Mountain
which verges towards Perfepolis, in like fculpture is carved the figure of a Giant which
the Perfians fay is the reprefentation of Ruftan: which may the better be credited feeing
that in his memory the place is called Nogdi, or as fome pronounce Nufci-Rnftan, i. e.
Ruflans Monument. This Kuftan was a Heroe celebrated in the old Annals of Perfta which
thefe modern times preferve but by tradition: fo that uncertain it is what age he lived
ini but as I gathered afterwards at when I went to fee his Tomb, was in or
about the reign of that great Artaxerxes or Ahaftiuerm who took to Wife Hefter the
Jew, in whole Wars 'tis likely he was fome Eminent Commander ; concerning whofe
ftrength and ads, Romance-like they report wonders. Nigh this upon the fame Hill
the Images of feveral Women and Maidens are carved , one of which they fay is the ,
figure of Ruftarfs Earthly goddefsof whofe Amours and adventures which like a Knight
Errant he performed for her fake, the Perfians tell many pleafant ftories: As alfo, how
by the corrivallhip of Sha~gad his falfe friend, Ruftan was deftroy'd by falling into a pit
covered with boughs and Earth ^ whence neverthelefs with a dart he flew his adverfary,
fuch time as he look'd down into the pit to infult over Ruftan by way of triumph.
Nor far thence (where the Mountain in like manner is made fmooth and even) are
two other large figures of Giants on horfeback. The one has the. Royal Tiara upon his
head with long crifped hair dangling under it *, and upon his ihoulders that royal Veft
which the Sovereign Princes wear, as elfewhere defcribed: In his left hand is a Club
with Iron fpikes at the end, non unlike that which Painters ufually give to Hercules. Op-
pofiteto this is the other Chevalier, who wears a like Veil upon his Body, with hair
upon his head of equal length, but bare-headed. The horfes in theirpoftures face each
other, as do the Riders; who with their right hands ftretched on high lay hold upon
a round ring, feeming to contend about if, and either to force it from each other, or
break it afunder. This probably is a fymbol or embleme of that great Empire *, and re-
prefents to all Generations that great conteft for the Monarchy of the World, which
happened betwixt Darim and Alexander, or other wife that 'twixt Cyrm and Artaxerxes.
in another place upon the precipice of the Hill is the effigies of another Gigantine
perfon, little different in habit*, and mounted upon a like Bucephalus. Within his right
hand he holds a Sword not fo hooked as the Damafcoy nor fo clofe-guarded as ours*,
and with his left out-ftretched he grafps a Foot-man that feems to oppofe him ; back
by another Camerade bare-headed, who by this conqupft over his Fellow, in fubmifs
manner by the bowing of his body feems to beg the Horfe-man's mercy. There are fe-
veral other Images carved in that Mountain, which are lafting Monuments, and very
well worth a Travellers notice: but thefe I lately named are the principal. Now whe
ther thefe ftupendious Monuments may have been made by the diredion of fome Per-
ftan Potentate, or of Alexander the Great who had moft pleafure in that kind of often-
tation ?