'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.' [‎150] (171/448)

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tation, and Lyfippw the moft expert Statuary in the World at that time marching with
his Army ? Or whether they were formerly cut by the diredions of that mighty Mo.
narch nabhchodonofo't" the H ctch U s of the Eaft 9 or precedent to him by the appointment
of Semiramis-, which lalt (as Diod. Sic dm 1.2. Jofeyhm ex Berofo contra Jppion, and other
Hiftoriographers relate) in Chaldea, Media and Per fa to exprefs her greatnefs, but efpe
cially to eternize her fame, planted Gardens, differed Mountains, raifed Bridges, and
upon high Places caufed her own Effigies and her Husbands to be engraven ^ Bafiig m
Mons eft Media apud quern Semiramis in fetra feptendecem ftadiormn, ftiam efficient infculpfit
CosL Rhod.l. 29. c. 24. There Ihe made a Garden 12 furlongs in compals, and upon a*
Mountain 17 furlongs high caufed her figure to be cut, with 100 others prefenting her
with gifts 7 and upon a Marble Rock caufed it to be writ in S^nW^letters tothis efFea:,
A Semir amide [nbditorum opere, iftud fax urn excifum eft, Mmftter lib. 5. Cofmogr. AtChaona
or Coom in Media upon a like high Mountain that raifed it felf in the midll of a large
Champagne ground, flie caufed other very ftately Gardens and Houfes of delight to be
ereded •, and to the intent ihe might from thence have a perfed view of that great Army
of Horfe and Foot which fhe had raifed and was marching with into India, being ( as Sui-
das reports) three millions of Foot, one million of Horfe, one hundred thoufand Cha
riots and the like number of Camels for fight, and 200000 more Camels that had the
baggage of the Armyj and carried 300000 raw hides for wafting her Army over the Ri,
ver Jndmy refolving (but in vain) to make Staurohates the Indian King a Vaflal of her Ba
bylonian Empire. Upon the Jarceian Mountains near Ecbatane fhe left another Monument
of her power, by cutting a paflage through it for the Army, Diod. SicHlmlib.$.cap.$. not
only to the wonder of thofe times, but admiration of fucceeding Ages: which partly out
of bafe flattery, but principally out of fear the People firft reputed Idols, and then wor-
fhipped, but whether I am not able to determine ; and therefore leave it to the fur
ther fcrutiny of fome future Traveller,who in thefe things may have a better ^/^con
tenting my felf onely with the profped and relation. At Caramoon-Shahoon a mountain
near unto Pnlly~jha, in the way 'twixt Spaham and Bagdad the like curiolities are cut
and in all probability during the time thefe were elfeded. At Hamadan alfo the like*
and in fome other parts of Perfia, which being engraven upon the folid ftone, at fo
great height, and not upon the declivity, but hollow'd within the precipice of thofe
Mountains, endures the violence of wind and weather, and 'tis likely to continue as it
is, while the Rock it felf lafteth. But to return.
Upon either fide of this Mountain near Chilmanor, efpecially that which refpeds the
South, the Rock is cut fmooth ; and upwards above a hundred foot high in it are cut
or pierced feveral holes, fome being of larger lize than other: the leaft is three foot
fquare : Alfo in the fide of the Hill fome perfpedives are engraven,or at leall defigned.
Now feeing that Diod. Siculm and other Writers of thofe times acquaint us, That when
the Perfian Kings had the Sovereign command of the World, their Sepulchers or Burial-
places were not in Cemeteries where Graves were ufually made; but in deep holes pur-
pofely digged within the Rock or Marble Mountains about Perfepolis', whereinto the
Corps ( after they were embalmed ) were let down by long cords or other engines fitted
for that purpofe: So as for the performing that laft office, there was no afcending with
out a ladder, which was onely reared upon fuch folemn occafions. For proof whereof,
that Story of Darius Hyftafris mentioned by Ctefias in his Hiftory of Perfia is pertinent
and remarkable •, which King having in his life time prepared in the Hill joyning Per.
fepolts his own Sepulchre, was very defirous to be let down to fee the place where his
Body fhould be laid i but the Magi dilfwaded him, as being ominous: neverthelefs the
King's Parents ( no lefs curious of the fight) were by the Priefts let down with ropes, but
in the defcent fo terrified with hideous apparitions, that letting go their hold they were
killed by the fall, for which difafter 40 of the Priefts by the King's fevere decree were
put to death. The (^Egyptians of old had the like Sepulchres in deep Caves or Vaults
thirty foot under ground, curioufly cut into the folid Rock, and at the bottom parted
into feveral Chambers, where the embalmed Corps were laid *, as by the Mummies fre
quently found there is apparent. In Thebes alfo ( which Strabo calls Diofbolis) i. e. Jew
ctvttas (not that near Joppa) are like Graves, wherein are interred above 40 of the
gyptian Dynafts and Kings, which there have their Sepulchres; for to bury the Dead was
accounted impious, but being imbalmed they laid them in fome private room within
then houfe, faith Pomponius. Albeit it is not to be doubted how 7 that this cuitom conti
nued not many Ages, nor was pradifed amongft all forts of People: but during the
^ ni ? Ces g^ped the Scepter of the Univerfe, and with thofe onely that were
or higheit Quality: For, whenthe Greeks fubverted this Monarchy, this mode was left,
and