'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.' [‎292] (323/582)

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SHIRAZ.
within is one large hall, unusually low, and its roof formed of a
succession of vaulted coves. The points of these are supported
by marble columns, of which there are four rows of twelve each.
These are without pedestals, and the shaft and capital of each
is one piece of white marble. The shafts are spirally fluted,
though beginning and ending in a straight line : the capital swells
upward like an inverted bell; and between two astragals, at the
top and bottom of the capital, are arranged perpendicular leaves,
like those of a spreading palm, sculptured in relief. There is here
a flight of steps going up to the oratory of the priests; the whole
flight being formed of one entire block of Tabreez marble, finely
wrought and beautifully polished. Some parts of the roof or
ceiling, and the wall about the niche of prayer, have been tiled,
but the rest remains bare ; and while the sculptured marble slabs
of the surbasement of the outer court appear as fresh as if finished
yesterday, the coloured tiling of the arches above is already falling
to decay, and no repairs are even spoken of as intended. Though
this is considered to be the most beautiful mosque at Shiraz,
it is not to be compared with either of the principal ones at
Ispahan.
After quitting this, we went to the Shah Cheragh, the tomb
of one of the sons of Imam Moosa, — Shah being a name given
to Fakeers and Dervishes, or holy persons distinguished for their
piety or their wisdom, as well as to kings. In the centre of this
place is a large and lofty edifice covered by a dome, a fine tomb
of wrought silver in open work, like the tomb in Henry the
Seventh's Chapel at Westminster Abbey, with folding-doors; the
bars of silver used in this grating work being an inch in circum
ference. Around the tomb are tablets covered with fine Arabic
writing; and on the tomb itself are offerings of silver vessels,
with a highly embellished copy of the Koran. We each kissed
the corners of this with great devotion; the omission of which
mark of respect would have been dangerous. The carpets around
this tomb were painted; and rich gilding was used on the ceiling