that point the banks are all high rugged rocks, the rest lying under

water.

Concerning the lake Karabogaskoi, it must be observed, that all the east coast, from Krasna-woda to cape Karaganskoi is a ragged shore and rocky ground; in many places there are high rocks at a distance from the shore, which appear as islands; but prudence forbids a near approach to them.

"In the latitude of 43 there seems to be a large inlet behind some high rocks; but we never had occasion to make discovery of it. From 42 or 43 degrees there is a sand-bank eight or nine leagues broad, and 20 leagues in extent;

on it are about 25 fathoms water, which always appears discoloured.

"Cape Karaganskoi, and the island Kulalie, are already mentioned: in the former there is good shelter from SSE winds; and the latter has a very good harbour, where there are 10 or 11 feet water, with clean sandy ground. This island is barren and unin habited; but the harbour is the general rendezvous for all the Russian vessels, which load fish at the Yaeik, for Kislar and Derbend. There are several small islands to the eastward of Kulalie; but we never had any opportunity of surveying them.

THE Gelshahagan monarchy comprises four dynasties, viz. the Peshdadian, Kaïanian, Ashkanian, and Sassanian, of whom the last prince was Yezdigerd son of Sheriar. Their empire continued 6024 years and 5 months, during which period the world was preserved in good. Kai-umers, Syamek, and Howsheng, stiled Peshdadean (or legislators); Tahmuras, surnamed Deobend (or tamer of Demons) and Gemshid, were aided and instructed by divine revelation, besides which their natural inclinations were prudent and upright. They ordained and extended religious ceremonies, encouraged virtuous actions and temperance, established marriages and abolished adultery, conceived and advanced

VOL. 6.

various sciences, taught the use of letters and books, invented wind and stringed musical instruments, made improvements in dress and ornaments, and in the culinary art; regulated banquets and festivals, founded cities, built houses, laid out gardens, they also maintained justice in the manner related of Mahahbad and his posterity; after whom the noble Gilshagan monarchs, with the help of heaven, ruled with wisdom, and benefited society by considerable improvements. The world is greatly indebted to these for much of its present light and splendor. Many arts now in use were derived from this source, and of their inventions only a few remain, the rest having been lost in the lapse of time.

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The

The Supassyans believe that from the commencement of the reign of Abad, to the destruction of the empire under Yezdigerd, all these monarchs, excepting Zehur, were just and temperate, both in word and deed; and that of this holy race there have been many prophets, saints, and others, renowned for their virtue and piety, and armies whose valour maintained the prosperity of the empire. But the prophets and kings prior to Gil Shah, that is the Abydyan princes · down to Yeassan Ajam, they hold in the highest veneration, because they were never guilty in thought, or deed, having never departed from the Pyrrian Fesheug, or ordinances of Mahahbad, nor omitted any thing that it was their duty to perform. This sect say that the stars are of the highest dignity, and therefore the Keblah (or object of worship) for mankind in this lower world. In the reign of Dawirhooryar, who is Secunder the son of Da.a (or Alexander the Great) of the Kaïanian stock, and Yezdanian religion, some person having asserted that the prophets and saints are of higher dignity than the sun, the king asked in what places their bodies were now to be found. The other named the cities and places where there sepulchres are situated. The king proceeded by observing "No prophet or saint during his life time did cast forth rays of light to the distance of one day's journey, and when they were committed to the ground, no light issued from their graves; and now that they are incorporated with the earth, not a vestige of them remains." The disputant nevertheless maintained that the souls of the prophets and saints are exceedingly resplendent; the king replied, "Behold the body

of the sun, see in what abundance he diffuses his light, whilst the bodies of your great men are all darkness, therefore it is beyond doubt, that his soul is brighter than theirs. Know, moreover, that the sun is the heart of the heavens, without whom, this perishable world could not exist; without whom seasons would cease; and all things would come to an end. In the beginning there were neither prophets nor saints, nor are there any at present, and yet the world continues. Seasons revolve, and mankind enjoy happiness. However, it must be acknowledged, that prophets and saints are better than men of other descriptions." The king's opponent was struck dumb by this answer. Summarily: in this book, called Akhteristan, it is said that the Supassyans believe the stars and the heavens are shadows, or types of the deity: in which persuasion, they erected temples for the seven planets, which were therein represented by certain talismans, or images, in metal or stone, which they preserved with great care. These idols were placed, with their proper aspect, in their respective temples, and worshipped of these images, they burnt particular incense, and observed different rites and ceremonies for every idol. These buildings were called Pykeristan, or image temples, and Shiedistan, or temples of the luminaries.

In the Akhteristan, it is related that they had an image of Saturn carved out of black stone. It represented a man, with a head like an ape, the body of human form, with the tail of a hog. On this head was placed a crown; the right hand held a sieve, and the left a snake; about the seat of the liver,

the

the stone was blacker than in other parts. His attendants were Ethiopians, Abyssinians, and others, of dark complexions; they wore blue garments, and iron rings on their fingers. The incense which they offered was storax and such like; and the food they prepared for the idol was mostly pungent, such as myrabolans; and which they used also as medicine. Villagers and husbandmen, when they came here from far, and men of family, derveishes, mathematicians, sorcerers, soothsayers, &c. had their dwellings near the temple, where these sciences were studied, and their wants supplied. On their arrival, they went first to the temple, after which they paid their respects to the king. All persons under the tutelage of Saturn were introduced at court by the chiefs and principal attendants of this temple, who were of the greatest families of Iran. Shet and Teemar, are titles of honour, signifying majesty, the same as Sree in Hindi, and Hazeret in Arabia.

The image of Jupiter was of an earthy colour; it represented a man with a vulture's head, on which was a crown; and on the top thereof were the heads of a cock and a dragon. The right hand held a turban, and the left a crystal water-pot. The attendants of the temple wore habits of blue, yellow, and white, and cornelian rings set in silver, the incense was laurel berries, &c. and they offered sweet seasoned food. In the vicinity of this temple resided learned men, great ministers of state, nobility, governors, and scribes, and followed various occupations, although the greater part studied theology.

Both the temple and statue of Mars were of red stone. The

statue represented the body of a man, all red, and wearing a crown, the right arm, which was red, hung down by his side, and the left arm, which was yellow, was raised up, in his right hand was a bloody sword, and in the left an iron Scourge. The attendants who were starks (or soldiers) wore red habits, and had copper rings on their fingers. The incense was

gum sandarack, &c. and they of fered bitter food. Nobles, chieftains, soldiers, camp followers, and Turks, took up their abode in this quarter, and men of these descriptions were introduced to the king by the chiefs of the temple. Those who bestowed charity resided in this neighbourhood. Criminals condemned to death were executed at this place; where there was a prison.

The image of the sun, the illuminata of the universe, was the largest of all the idols. The temple had a dome constructed of bricks of gold, inlid with diamonds, rubies, cornelians, and other stones. The statue of the great luminary was of red gold, and represented a man with two heads, and on each a valuable seven-pointed crown set with rubies, and he was mounted on a powerful horse. The idols faces were human; but he had a dragon's tail, the right hand held a slender rod of gold, and his neck was encircled with a collar of jewels. The attendants of this temple wore garments of gold brocadry, and caps of cloth of gold: they had girdles inlaid with diamonds, rubies, and yellow stones and gold rings on their fingers. The incense was lignum aloes, &c. and the food of which they offered here was mostly acrid. Princes and others of high birth and rank, chiefs and gover*E 2

nors,

nors, treasurers and learned men, resided in this quarter, and on their first arrival, were introduced to the king by the chiefs of this temple.

The temple of Venus, on the outside, was of white marble, and within all chrystal. The idol was of human form, of a red colour, and wore a crown with sevenpoints. The right hand held a bottle of oil, and the left a comb; the incense was saffron, &c. The attendants were arrayed in gar ments of fine white linen, and wore crowns inlaid with pearls, and on their fingers rings set with precious stones. Men were not suffered to enter her temple at night, during which time the service was performed by matrons and their daughters; excepting the night that the king went there, when women did not approach the temple, the religious ceremonies being then performed by men, they offered unctious food. In the neighbourhood resided women who worshipped the deity of this place, and others who came here from distant parts; also goldsmiths, painters, and minstrels lived in the vicinity of this temple; through the chiefs of which, all of them were introduced to the king, but ordinary women and princesses gained access to the queen through the peccah chiefs of the temple.

The temple and statue of Mercury were both of blue stone. The idol had the body and tail of a fish, with the face of a hog; one arm was black, and the other white, and it had a crown on its head. The right hand held a pen, and the left an inkhorn. The incense offered here was mustech, &c. The attendants on Mercury wore blue garments, and had gold rings on their fingers. They pre

pared for him some food. Viziers, sages, astrologers, physicians, farriers, accomptants, collectors of the revenues, officers of the dewan, scribes, merchants, architects, taylors, embalmers, &c. resided here; and through the chiefs of the temple, were introduced to the king. They also studied here the arts and sciences.

The temple of the moon was of green stone. That planet was represented by a man, seated on a white cow. On his head a triple pointed crown, on his arms were bracelets, and a collar round his neck; in the right hand was an amulet of rubies, and the left held a sprig of sweet basil. The attendants wore either green or white garments, and had silver rings on their fingers. The incense offered to this idol was gum arabic, &c. and they prepared for it food seasoned with salt. Spies, messengers, carriers, intelligencers, travellers, and common people, from far and near, took up their abode in this quarter, and by means of the chiefs of the temple, were introduced to the king. In every idol temple, besides the attendants properly belonging to it, there were many viziers and generals employed by the king, to accomplish any particular business that was under the tutelage of the idol of the place. In the Khoorsar (or refectory) of every temple, the table was continually spread, and served with various kinds of victuals and drink; and no person was prohibited from partaking_of_them: Also in the court-yard of every temple was an hospital where physicians administered medicines to the sick, who were under the tutelage of that particular planet. There were likewise places prepared for the accommodation of

travellers,

travellers, who, on their arrival at the city, went to the square of this tutelar planet.

It is necessary to be understood, that the planets are simple bodies, of spherical forms, and that those images which I have described, are the figures under which the souls of these stars have appeared in the world of imagination, to many saints, prophets, and philosophers. They have assumed other shapes, in conformity to which, other representations have been drawn.

When the king went to the temple of Saturn, not only the servants thereof, but all the professors of the Yezdanian religion were clad in garments either of black or blue; they proceeded with an humble pace, having their hands reclined on their breasts, and spoke in a low tone. In the temple of Jupiter they wore his colour, dressed as learned men and judges. In the temple of Mars they wore the colour peculiar to that planet, and spoke arrogantly. In the temple of the Sun, their conversation was such as became Kings and Parsees. In the temple of Venus they joked and laughed. In the temple of Mercury they spoke eloquently, and like philosophers. In the temple of the Moon they behaved childishly, and like lictors. Besides these large statues, there were in every house images of the pla. nets, a catalogue of which may be found in the Akhteristan. In every idol temple there was also a spherical figure of the planet, which is the true representation. There was a city named Serai Padshah, or the King's Palace, in the front of which were seven idol temples. Every day the king, arrayed in the dress peculiar to the ruling planet, appeared at a Tábsar, facing the temple of that planet: when the

people stood near, and make their obeisance. For example: on the day of the Sun, or Sunday, he shewed himself at the Tabsar, in a dress of gold brocade, wearing a golden diadem set with diamonds and rubies, and adorned with other precious stones. The Tabsar was decorated with jewels. There were steps from the Tábsar to the ground, which was an extensive plain, where the inferior soldiers were stationed. Upon the king's appearing at the Tábsar, every one fell prostrate on the ground; after this, he transacted business. The Tabsar is a window in a lofty building, and is what the sultans of Hindustan call the Jehrokha. On other days also he shewed himself from this (with the necessary alterations of dress). On great festivals, he, with his court, went to the grand temple of the planet, and when he returned from thence appeared at the Tabsar, facing the lesser temple of the same planet. Otherwise he seated himself in the Rozistán, or else transacted business in the Dadistan. The place called the Rozistán had not a Táb sar; but the king sat there on a throne, attended by the officers of government, arranged according to their rank. The Dádistân was the public hall of justice, and while the king was here, no one was refused admittance. The king first appeared at the Tábsar, then in the Rozistán, and afterwards in the Dadistán. The day on which the planet entered a sign, and on great festivals, the king never failed going to the idol temple. Every one of them had a Tábsar, the same as those described in the king's palace. On festivals they brought the idol to the Tábsar, to which the king ascended, and after having made his prostration to the image,

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stood