'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎256] (291/450)

RUINS OF THE ZENDAN.
had been a buttress, or some projection there, pos
sibly an ascent. The north end is quite ruined;
many houses having been built at Shehraban and
elsewhere, out of the materials found in the Zendan.
At the west side, the desert appears elevated all
alone: the front to some distance, as if there were
o
more building there, and the whole country is
covered with broken bricks.
This curious building is of burnt brick, laid in
good mortar, and very solidly constructed. There
are no inscriptions on any ol the bricks I saw, and
no clay unburnt bricks, or reeds, were visible.
There are many hollows in different places, which
are now quite filled with earth and rubbish. It is
very singular, but a piece of Chinese copper coin was
found in this ruin. I must, however, reserve much
that I have to say concerning my discoveries to-day,
until we meet, as I have not yet set down my astro
nomical observations.
To-morrow we start at peep of day for Kizzel-
rebat, an easy stage. I intend to dispatch this by
the return muleteers, as I send back from hence
all the bad mules, keeping the most tolerable, and
supplying the remainder from the village.
A government messenger has just been with me,
who offers to take charge of this letter. I wish I
could have heard from you here, as I am now going
to strike out of the road, and have but little chance
of getting a letter till I come back to the environs