'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎210] (308/474)

210 JOURNEY TO PERSEPOLIS.
the name by which the sculptures are known. The
valley is narrow and rocky, and the river rapid. I
tasted the water, which was good, though warm, and
unlike that at the bridge. There were many rhodo
dendrons in flower, which gave forth a pleasant
odour. We soon lost the Shapour river on our left,
and turned right, into a rocky glen, hollowed out by
a small rivulet, which had, however, caused mighty
havoc, and was to give us great trouble; its water
was brackish, and I think napthous, and it leaves
patches of nitre on the banks.
As we advanced the glen grew wider—the strata
of sandstone in several places dipped west, and had
been washed quite bare ; two or three layers to
gether sticking up above the soil like gigantic walls
half overthrown; fragments of stones encumbered
the glen, which gradually became almost a ravine ;
and huge cliffs seemed to overhang the path on both
sides: the wildness of the scene was, I have no
doubt, much increased by night. I observe that
these roads, unlike those of Turkey and Koordistan,
keep to the bottom of the ravine as much as pos
sible ; the glen wound among the cliffs, which
almost shut out the sky, and, gradually ascending,
we at least reached the foot of the Kutal i Kemarij.
It began well, but we soon found the little stream
had cut down the side of it on our right hand,
leaving a frightful chasm between it and the next
cliff, which seemed perpendicular; the very bad
precipices, however, were not of long duration: the