'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎303] (412/496)

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bushy wig of the injured king : even as it was, a sickness assailed me that
left but little strength to descend to the platform. The thoughts of my
narrow escape prevented for some time a return to equanimity ; I then
vowed, however, to refrain in future from such iconoclastic tendencies.
This work of Art is situated about a quarter of a mile north of the
Caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). of Behistan : a shoulder of the mountain here projects to the
eastward, forming nearly a right angle with the scarp on which the work
is inscribed. This projecting crag shelters the design, in some measure,
from the violent N. E. winds and rain that are said to prevail from that
quarter; to this, to its elevated site, and to its being left in shade after
2 p. m., I attribute its excellent preservation. Without the aid of ropes
and ladders it would be a matter of serious difficulty to reach the spot,
and even with these aids no weak-headed or nervous person should
attempt the ascent. Above the inscription the mountain bears the same
precipitous character to its summit. The wild goat is occasionally seen,
with a precarious footing, carefully sauntering along its crags ; and the
mountaineer, by laying in wait on paths known only to himself, sometimes
succeeds in securing a victim.
At the base of the mountain, on the projecting angle before alluded
to, and close to a copious spring* which issues from the hill, and irrigates
a part of the neighbouring plain, once stood a colossal group of figures
executed in alto-relievo. They are, however, so much mutilated by the
despoiler Time, or by the desecrating Arab, that nothing but a faint out
line is now distinguishable. The centre of the tablet has even been
barbarously cut away, to expose a smooth surface for the reception of an
Arabic inscription celebrating the virtues and liberality of one Sheikh
Ali Khan, the founder of the caravanseraij* of Behistan. The tablet
bears, too, a Greek record, of which but a few unconnected words arc
now traceable. The name of r£2TAP2Hc is however distinct enough, and
Major Rawlinson recognizes other words which are given in his Notes on
a March into Khuzistan.f It would be difficult to pronounce on the
* Diodorus Siculus, Book II., Chap. I., notices this Spring :—“ Semiramis
marched with a great army into Media and encamped near a mountain called Ba-
gistan: there she made a garden, twelve furlongs in compass. It was in a plain
champaign country, and had a great fountain in it, which watered the whole garden.”
t The erection of these edifices, for the accommodation of the traveller, and re
ception of merchandise, can be traced to a very remote antiquity. Herodotus
styles them KaraXucreth, and Mahomed in the Koran recommends the establishment
of them as a pious work. See Heeren, Vol. I., page 31.
t Journal Royal Geographical Society, Vol. IX , Part I.,p. 114.