'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.' [‎133] (164/582)

OF TAUK-E-BOSTAN.
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warlike event, but are merely the ornaments of general pictures
appropriate to such a place. The tradition of their being the
work of Ferhad, the Georgian Prince, who was enamoured of
Shirine, and whom Khosrou employed in labours of this kind to
divert his attention from his mistress, is believed by all here, and
would require the positive testimony of history or inscriptions to
overthrow.
The opinion that these sculptures at the Tauk-e-Bostan were
the works of Semiramis, or of the Greek successor of Alexander,
has been sufficiently combated by M. Silvestre de Sacy in his
" Memoires sur les Antiquites de la Perse and the correspon
dence of the costume with that seen in the drawings of the sculp
tures at Shapoor and Nakshi Rustam, as well as the Pehlivi in
scription translated by the learned Frenchman, leave no longer
any doubt of their being the work of the Sassanian age.
The neighbouring town of Kermanshah is said to have been
founded by Bahram, the son of Sapor Dulactaf, who, having con
quered Kerman, assumed the title of Kermanshah, or king of that
country, which he bestowed on his new city, Chosroes.
Nashirvan, according to the Nozhat Alcolaub, here erected a
magnificent hall of audience, where on one occasion he received
at the same time the homages of the Emperor of Rome, the Em
peror of China, and the Khan of the Tartars. No ruin of any
ancient building of consequence is now however to be seen, con
tinues the author from whom this is extracted ; and it is not im
probable but the historian may allude to the Hall of Kengawar.
As, however, the figure of Bahram, or Varahram, himself is sculp
tured in one of the Caves, which we gather from the inscription
accompanying it, there seems no reason why this fine arched
chamber should not be the hall in question ; delightfully seated
as it is in the most agreeable spot near Kermanshah, and distin
guished as it unquestionably was by the favour of the founder, in
the expense and labour lavished on it.
There are two other remarkable monuments spoken of in the