'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.' [‎141] (172/582)

I
TO BISITOON AND KENGAWAR.
141
On our reaching the spot, however, the most careful examina
tion led to no satisfactory result. The level surface in question
was evidently wrought smooth by the hand of man, for some such
purpose, but abandoned before that purpose was completed. A
space of not less than a hundred feet in length, by from twenty to
thirty feet in height, had been cut into the rock, in so regular
form, as to make it appear, at a little distance, to be a perfect
tablet. The excavation, or incision, was about two feet beneath the
level of the outer surface of the rock, and the outlines were per
fectly smooth and straight. In front of this space was a platform
of corresponding dimensions, supported by a temporary wall of
loose stones, and a sloping buttress of rubbish. About the spot
were large hewn blocks, as if some building were intended to have
been constructed here ; and the tradition of the people is, that
Ferhad was employed to execute on this spot some grand sculp
tured work, which was interrupted by his death.
We returned with some disappointment to the khan, and took
up our quarters there for the night. This is a large building,
similar to those on the road from Bagdad to Hillah, and from
the same city to Kermanshah ; but the former have been the
work of kings and princes in successive ages, while this was erected
by a certain Hadjee Ali Khan, a private individual, whose pio-
perty lay chiefly in this quarter, and who left this behind him for
general accommodation, as a work of piety and public spirit. A
long inscription in Persian, cut on marble blocks, on each side the
door of entrance, commemorates this act of munificence ; though
few of those who arrive fatigued after a long ride, stop to read it
as they enter. The view from within the khan is particularly
striking ; the stupendous cliffs of Bisitoon, towering immediately
over it, and the excavated space in its south-east point, which we
had been to examine, are perfectly visible above the walls of the
she forbore marrying, lest she should be deposed from the government; and, in the mean time,
she made choice of the handsomest commanders to be her gallants; but after they had lain
with her, she cut off their heads." Diod. Sic. lib. 2. cap. 1.