'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.' [‎125] (156/582)

OF TAUK-E-BOSTAN.
125
said the Dervish, " is true philosophy. Behold this Rustan,
born an infidel, embracing afterwards the true faith, becoming
rich, abandoned by fortune, banished, and shown the whole round
of poverty and wealth, of favour and disgrace, yet retaining wis
dom enough amidst all these reverses to solace his banishment
with pleasure, and not to suffer a moment of pure enjoyment to
pass by him for the sake of the works of the past, or the hopes of
the future, of which you so idly talked." I strove to convince
him that it was because the man had no philosophy, and was really
unhappy in his banishment, that he sought for pleasure in such
sources as these ; but all that I could say was in vain. Ismael
contended that we had acted foolishly, and thought not only that
my disappointment at the Caves was a fit punishment for my folly,
but that I should deserve all the evils which might in any other
way result from it.
It was nearly sun-set before we returned to the khan, and we
had still many little duties to perform preparatory to our setting
out in the morning. I had determined, if possible, to turn aside
from the road then, and make a second visit to the Caves in our
way to Bisitoon; but as that might not be practicable, I sat down
by my lamp, when my companions were asleep, to note down such
recollections as I still retained of the Caves, from my imperfect
and restrained examination of them.
They are called by the natives Tauk-e-Bostan, or the Arch of
the Garden, and not Takht Rustam, or the Throne of Rustam, as
has been said. They are situated at the distance of somewhat
more than a league from Kermanshah, in a due bearing of north
east by compass. They are hewn out at the foot of the mountain
of the same name, connected with which are the separate masses
of Parou to the north, and Bisitoon to the east. The rock here
rises in nearly a perpendicular cliff from the plain, and the Caves
face the south-west, looking immediately towards the town.
On approaching them, they are scarcely seen, as they are co
vered by clusters of trees thickly planted, some of them extend-