'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.' [‎251] (282/582)

ARRIVAL AT YEZDIKHAUST.
251
ravine, which had every appearance of having been once the bed
of a large river. The walls of the houses were carried up in a
perpendicular line with the cliff of the mass on which they stood,
and many of their tops were at least one hundred feet above the
level of the dry bed below. This mass seemed to be about five
hundred yards in length, and not more than a third of that in
breadth, the whole of its surface being covered with buildings.
To complete the isolated nature of the situation, the only passage
into the town was at the south-west end, and this was over a
plank, leading from a high piece of ground to the gate, which
could be removed at pleasure, and thus leave a deep ditch of
defence. This had been once, no doubt, a castle, judging from the
appearance of the work at this point of entrance ; and it then had
a small town seated around its foot, the ruined and abandoned
dwellings of which are still to be seen in the valley below. In the
cliffs of the supposed river's bed, on each side, and opposite to the
town, are a number of caverns, probably used for sheltering flocks,
though sometimes also, no doubt, for human habitations. The
soil of this insulated mass, as seen in its perpendicular side, is a
light coloured earth, with a mixture of broken stones, and the
bottom a hard rock. The soil continues nearly half-way down to
the base, and I thought I could perceive the mark of a water-line
along its surface, though it must have been long since any water
flowed so hiffh, at least anterior to the existence of the ruined
o 7
buildings now seen in the valley below.
The number of dwellings in Yezdikhaust does not exceed a
hundred and fifty, and the inhabitants are reckoned at about six
hundred. As they are within the territory of Fars, this being the
first town after leaving the province of Irak, they are tributary to
the government of Shiraz. The strength of their situation makes
them, however, insolent, and difficult to be kept in order; and,
like all lovers of freedom, they have the character of a ferocious
and lawless band. Their houses present a very singular appear
ance, with their numerous apertures of doors and windows, and
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