'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎308] (417/496)

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forerunner of winter in these parts, first shewed itself above our horizon
on this day. As we intended to visit the celebrated Arch of the “ Tak-i-
Bostan,” our road now lay more to the north than the route we had
formerly traversed on our way to Behistan. Skirting the bold chain of
Barrow, we arrived at the Tak-i-Bostan at 8*40 a. m., glad enough to
shelter ourselves in the shade of the arch from the rays of the sun, which
by this time had become somewhat oppressive.
The Tak-i-Bostan sculptures are the finest in this part of the country,
and bear at the present time so high a polish, so much grace and ele
gance, both of design and execution, that we must ascribe them to a
period long subsequent to those of Darius Hystaspes at Behistan. It is
difficult, however, to assign them a correct date, but I see no reason why
the traditions of the country, which attribute them to the reign of Khus-
ru Parviz, should not be credited. This monarch, after his defeat by
Bahrain, fled into the Homan territories, where he no doubt became ena
moured of the many works of art which that vast empire then possessed;
and after his successful wars against the provinces of the then capital of
the western world, v r e may imagine that he secured the services of the
most able artists, architects, and artisans, that could be met with, for the
ci ection and decoration of nis numerous palaces and other works in Per
sia of which he is the reputed founder. The incomplete state of some,
and the entire overthrow of others, of these edifices, sufficiently shew
that some great event suddenly occurred to stop the progress of ambi
tion. .The reign of Khusru Parviz will best accord with this event, for
while in the plenitude of his arrogance and power, the Roman armies
under Heraclius suddenly overran the Empire of Persia in one direction
as far as the Caspian, in another to the gates of Ispahan, and requited
the accumulated indignities he had heaped on Christianity by destroy
ing every memorial of his magnificent reign. The Tak-i-Bostan has
howovci escaped the general wreck, and appears to have awakened the
interest of many travellers by the numerous marks which have been en
graved on its walls. Tne barbarous mania of name-cutting has even ex
tended thus far, and in time bids fair to erase what the hand of the dcs-
poder had failed to accomplish. This spot has, I believe, often been
expressed my inciedulifcy to tne Bedii^ and have sought of him a reason for so singu*
^ r AU O m C A? Sta ” G0, ^ Ufc have merel y obtained the usual reply of the ignorant--
, a u " ail b “.God knows.” I can only account for it by supposing the ani-
i\ u ? ^ >re Gr k* ^^hig the cold N. W. winds, which generally prevail at this time,
a.- 1 Ah 0 o x P osm g his whole body to the fierce breeze from which in the other posi*
1G * 1S naturall y sheltered in a great degree by the formation of the breast-hone
upying the space between the fore-legs when in the recumbent posture.