'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.' [‎265] (296/582)

DEPARTURE FROM FUTHABAD.—FIRE ALTARS.
265
general assembly among the villagers, yet perfectly secure from
intrusion. As I had found no opportunity since leaving Yez-
dikhaust, of noting our progress, from being always with the Khan
Shuker Ullah, and as I was yesterday too fatigued to spare that
time from rest, I profited by this occasion to preserve my recol
lections in writing, before they were removed by more interest
ing ones.
Oct . 23d.—We left Futhabad an hour before daylight, and,
going through its eastern gate, went nearly north-north-east over
a by-path. In half an hour we passed on our right a small
village called Shemsabad, and in another half-hour we passed a
second, called Zenghiabad. In less than half an hour more,
having several villages in sight as the sun rose, with cultivated
land, flocks, trees, and water, we arrived at the foot of the moun
tain, which forms the northern boundary of the plain of Mer-
dusht. The first object we saw on the west was a small rock,
on which stood two fire-altars of a peculiar form: their dimen
sions were five feet square at the base and three at the top, and
they were five feet high. There were pillars or pilasters at the
corners, and arches in the sides. In the centre of each of these,
on the top, was a square basin, about eighteen inches in dia
meter, and six in depth, for the reception of the fire, formerly
used by the disciples of Zoroaster in their worship.
About three hundred paces to the east of this was a large
tablet, on which were two men on horseback, their heads meeting,
and the men each holding a ring. They each tread on captives;
the breast-cloths of the horses have lions on them, well executed;
and inscriptions both in Greek and Sassanian are seen near. #
The tablet on which these sculptures are represented is about
* I copied what little remains of the Greek inscription on the breast of the first horse at
this place, as well as the two Sassanian ones, above and below, and others again from the
second horse; but as they are too mutilated and imperfect to lead to any useful result, and
could only be represented by a separate engraving, they are omitted.
2 m