Nusaḫ-i Jahānārā - Epitome of the Ancient History of Persia

In Philological explanations I have used a variety of manuscripts; to enumerate which, would extend this Work beyond the limits prescribed: the principal of these, however, are the dictionaries or Ferhungs, intitled Jehangeeri, Borhan Katea— Kashf al Loghat— Sururi— Reshidi— Lutayef al Loghat— Bahr-al-Jouahir, &c. Many curious Philological Remarks I have likewise found in miscellaneous works, such as the Behari Sekhun, —Sherah Sekander Namah, —the Nefaias al Akhbar, — Sherah Khakani—the Zekhiret al Molouk— the Ahklak Nasseri— the Wakaat Matoul— the Negaristan of Jouini— a most excellent work of the same title, by Al Ghuffari (author of the Jehan Ara); and a third Negaristan, by Ali ben Taifour Bustami. I must also acknowledge my frequent obligations to the Lyrick and Soufi Poets, for assistance in my Historical and Antiquarian Researches. The allusions of Anvari, Hafiz, Saieb, Naziri, Oorfi, Helali, Firokhi, Shems Tabrizi, Kemal addein Isfahani, and a multiplicity of others, to anecdotes of ancient History and Mythology, have sometimes served to illustrate the most obscure passages of the prose writers; even the dull and voluminous commentaries on the Koran, and unwieldy folios of Mohammedan Law, have not been without their use; and something has been extracted from the numerous works of fiction and romance, which often exhibit very pleasing representations of Asiatick manners; I allude to such as the Anvar Soheily— the Khawer Nameh—the Kisseh Emir Hamzeh— Chehar Derveish, the Four Dervishes—the Bakhtyar Nameh—the Bostan-i-Kheyal—the Negar Ziba, &c.

Many topographical notes, and incidental references to the ancient History of Persia, are scattered through some of those Tarikhs which contain the Annals of modern Mohammedan Princes; among these are the Aulum Arai, an History of the Abbassides, in three large volumes— the Tarikh Ausim Cufi—the Akber Nameh—the Timour Nameh —the Tebcat Timouri, &c. also in Biographical works and collections of Anecdotes, the various Tuzkerreh al Shoara, or Lives of the Poets—the Tarikh ebn Khalkan, —the Tarikh Barmekian— the Mujalis al Momenin, &c.

There is another class of Manuscripts which I have attentively perused, yet sparingly quoted; because, though numerous, they afford but little, and even that little is of questionable authority: I mean those feeble compositions in modern Persick, said to be translations from the ancient Zend and Pehlavi, which European travellers procure from the Parsis of Surat, and of which the learned Dr. Hyde and M. Anquetil du Perron have given us sufficient specimens.

Had I not hopes of discovering some works of infinitely greater value than the Sadder, Erdaviraf Nameh, or the Zend-a-vesta, (as we have it in French) of Zoroaster himself, I should consider any further attention to the ancient dialects of Persia, as a misapplication of study, and a waste of time: these, however, have contributed, with the various manuscripts before mentioned, materials for my future work, of which the title will be nearly as follows: “Illustrations of Persian History and Antiquities—or an attempt to reconcile the Ancient History and Chronology of Persia (according to the dates and traditions, preserved in manuscripts of that country) with the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Records.”

This work will comprise,

I. An introductory essay on the study of Persian history, antiquities, and romance.

II. A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts which have furnished materials for the work.

III. That section of the Leb al Towarikh which contains the ancient History of Persia, from Caiumuras to Yezdejerd; given in the original Persian, with an English translation on the opposite pages.

IV. The Illustrations, &c. in which are collected from all the manuscripts before enumerated, the various traditions and anecdotes of each king’s reign; collated with those preserved in the Old Testament, and in the works of Greek and Latin writers; chronological, geographical, and philological observations, &c.

V. An Appendix, consisting of several miscellaneous articles, chronological tables, extracts from rare and ancient manuscripts, remarks on the antiquities of Persepolis, examination of Zend and Pehlavi manuscripts, funeral rites, fire worship, Manichean and Mazdakian heresies, archery and horsemanship of the Persians, musick, painting, sculpture, vestiges of Hebrew and Greek in the Persian language, &c.

Such are the outlines of my future Work, which, if I can judge by the materials already collected, will form two large quarto volumes, each containing at least 400 pages, besides maps and views, plates of inscriptions, medals and gems, engraved alphabets of ancient characters, and specimens of writing, fac similes from miniatures in manuscripts, &c.

I shall not here enumerate the Greek and Latin works which I have examined and collated; but I must acknowledge my frequent obligations to the Authors of Hebrew Scripture, —obligations, indeed, more frequent than those can possibly imagine who have only skimmed the surface of Oriental Literature, or plucked its flowers without gathering the fruits: I was myself surprised to find the most ancient and authentick of the Persian historians, prove, unconsciously, no despicable commentators on the Bible.

Of these historians, many allude to, and describe as still visible in their days, various stupendous and interesting monuments of antiquity, unnoticed by Europeans. To ascertain whether they exist at present, and to satisfy some doubts on the subject of those already described by travellers, I have resolved to visit Persia (if Providence continue to bless me with life and health) whenever some necessary domestick arrangements, and the Works on which I am now employed, shall have been completed.

London, August, 1799.

The Tarikh Jehan Ara, which has furnished materials for the following Work, is an octavo manuscript, purchased at Shiraz in the year 1787, by my ingenious friend, Captain William Francklin, author of the Tour to Persia, in which he has quoted it on the subject of Persepolis. During his residence in Bengal, it accidentally fell from a boat into the Ganges, and a few words have been rendered illegible by the wet; where such occur in the following extract, they are expressed by asterisks. On his return to England in 1797, Captain Francklin obligingly gave me this, with many other valuable manuscripts. The author is Cazi Ahmed al Ghuffari, of Cazvin; who, according to the Tarikh Bedaooni, died on his return from the pilgrimage to Mecca, when setting out from Daibul, Anno Hegiræ 975, (A. D. 1567.)

He was also author of the Negaristan; a most excellent compilation of historical anecdotes, of which I am so fortunate as to possess a fine copy, written by his own hand, and replete with his marginal notes; it is a large octavo manuscript, and was brought to Europe by Jonathan Scott, Esq.

From the Jehan Ara, which contains a general History of Asia, Patriarchs, Prophets, Jews, Arabians, Persians, Kings of Tartary, Hindoostan, &c. from the earliest times till the year of the Hegira 972, (of Christ 1564), I shall have occasion to give various extracts in a future Work.

1. Caiumuras—the son of Dulaved, the son of Ameem, the son of Arfakhshad, the son of Sam, the son of Noah, to whom be peace. His surname was Ghil-shah, which signifies the “Lord, or King of Clay.”^4a He reigned thirty years. The cities of Istakhar in Fars, Damavand, and Balkh, were founded by him.

2. Housheng—the son of Siamek, the son of Caiumuras. He was surnamed Peishdad; and is said to have built the cities of Sùs and Shuster in Khuzistan. His reign was of forty years.

3. Tahmuras—the son of Housheng. His surname was Nejeib, and, according to some, Resavend, which signifies “Armed at all points;” but he is generally known by the title of Dive-bend. The cities of Amol in Mazanderan, Isfahan, and Babylon, are monuments of his greatness. He reigned thirty years.

4. Jem—the son of Housheng; was surnamed Sheid, the meaning of which is “brightness, or splendour.” The years of his reign were seven hundred. The vestiges which remain of him, are the cities of Hamadan and Toos; also Istakhar, the building of which he completed.^6a

5. Piurasp—the son of Merdasp, the son of Rikavend, the son of Barsereh, the son of Nah, the son of Feraval, the son of Siamek, the son of Caiumuras; he was the son of Jemsheid’s sister, and called Zohac, which in the Arabick language is Dohac, and signifies “Master, or Lord.” Of his works, the Kenek or Tower of Babel is one. The time of his dominion was a thousand years.

6. Feridoun—the son of Abteen, the son of Aican, the son of Jemsheid;^8a he was surnamed Mouid, and some styled him Cai, which signifies “pure,” free from blemish, and approaching to spiritual perfection. Feridoun was the first who received so honourable a title. The ramparts and ditches of towns were devised by him. He reigned five hundred years.

7. Manucheher—the son of Meishkhoor, the son of Deiruk, the son of Serdsuk, the son of Irek, the son of Sek, the son of Resek, the son of Ferkourak, the son of Iretch, the son of Feridoun. His surname was Firouz; and his reign of one hundred and twenty years.

8. Nuzer^10a—the son of Manucheher; was surnamed Azadeh. He reigned seven years.

9. Afrasiab—(this name signifies the wings or sails of a mill); was the son of Peshunk, the son of Radshem,^10b the son of Tour, the son of Feridoun. His reign over Persia lasted twelve years.

10. Zav—the son of Tahmasp, the son of Manucheher. Of his works, is that^12a canal in the province of Diarbekir known by the name of Aub-i-Zab, or “the waters of Zav.” He reigned five years.

11. Gurshasf^* —the son of Zav. After the death of his father, exercised for six years the imperial functions. With him the honours of the Peishdadian race became extinct.

1. Cai Kobad—the son of Zab, the son of Zav, the son of Tahmasp; he was surnamed Cai (or Ky), which signifies “mighty.” In his time the river Jihon (the Oxus) was the boundary between Iran and Touran (Persia and Tartary); and Rustam the son of Zal flourished; the most illustrious hero of the world.^14a Isfahan was the seat of his empire; and he reigned one hundred years.

2. Cai-Kaus—the son of Cai-Kobad; his surname was Nimurd,^16a which, in the Arabick language, is lam yemat, or immortal, corruptly altered into Nimrod. Having, from the excess of foolish pride, endeavoured to ascend into the heavens, borne aloft in an ark (or throne) on the wings of eagles,^\&\#x2020\; from this he vainly * * * * One memorial of him is Affar,^16b in Mesopotamia. His reign was of an hundred and fifty years.

3. Cai-Khosru—the son of Siavesh, the son of Cai-Kaus; he was surnamed Humaioun; and his mother was Ferankis, the daughter of Afrasiab. Having at last, with the assistance of Piran Veiseh, penetrated into Persia, he slew Afrasiab, in revenge for the death of his father. He governed during sixty years.

4. Lohrasf,^* (or Lohrasp)—son of Arvend-shah, son of Cai-Nisheen, the son of Cai-Kobad: from his original residence in the city of Balkh, he was surnamed Balkhi. Of his institution, is the establishment of military stipends. His reign lasted an hundred and twenty years.

5. Gushtasf, (or Kishtasp)—the son of Lohrasp, was styled Hirbed, or the Minister of Fire. In his time Zerdusht, whose family name was Daada,^20a pretended to the gift of prophecy. The castle of Samarcand is one of the works which remain of Gushtasp, who reigned an hundred and twenty years.

6. Cai-Ardeshir^* —generally called Bahman, the son of Asfendiar, the son of Gushtasp; he was surnamed Dirazdest. One of the remaining memorials of him is Bandukvar, in Fars. He reigned an hundred and twelve years.

7. Homai—the daughter of Bahman; was surnamed Azadcheher. The vestiges of her are the thousand columns at Istakhar, and the city of Jerbadoan. Her reign lasted thirty-two years.

8. Darab—his father was Bahman, and his mother Homai, the daughter of Bahman.^22a The memorials of him are the institution of post-horses and couriers. The length of his reign was twelve years; and his title was Akber.

9. Dara, (Darius)—the son of Darab; he was surnamed Asgher. The city of Ebher was founded by him; and he reigned fourteen years.

10. Secander—the son of Darab, the son of Bahman; he was called Zu’l’Karnein. His mother was the daughter of Philip the King of Greece. In philosophy he was the pupil of Aristotle. The vestiges remaining of him, are the cities of Herat, Berdaa in Aran,^24a and Alexandria. He reigned over Persia fourteen years. His death happened at the city of Zour;^26a and the place of his interment was Alexandria.^26b

1. Ashek—the son of Dara, surnamed Asgher. During the transactions of his father’s reign he was a child at Rey. Having taken up arms against Antakhash^* the Grecian, he slew him after a battle; and defeated Constantine the Grecian, who had come to seek revenge. * * * * And Ashek made himself pre-eminent among the other kings; and reigned fifteen years.^32a

2. Ashek—the son of Ashek, the son of Dara. In his time the children of Israel put to death the prophet Zachariah, to whom be peace! for which he punished them. He was king six years. (Succeeded by Shapour, the third king.)^30a

4. Baharam—the son of Shapour, reigned eleven years.

5. Palash— the son of Baharam, likewise reigned eleven years.

6. Hormuzd—the son of Palash, reigned sixteen years.

7. Narsi—the son of Palash, fourteen years.

8. Firouz—the son of Hormuzd, seventeen years.

9. Palash—the son of Firouz, reigned twelve years.^*

10. Khosru—the son of Molad, the son of Narsi, eight years.

11. Palashan—the son of Palash, the son of Firouz, twenty-two years.

12. Ardavan—the son of Palashan, reigned thirteen years.

1. Ardavan—the son of Ashegh; having revolted against the Ashkanians, snatched the sovereignty from their hands, and reigned twenty-three years.

2. Khosru—the son of Ashegh, was king sixteen years.

3. Palash—the son of Ashegh, reigned twelve years. In his time the holy personage Jesus was born.

4. Gudarz—the son of Palash, the son of Ashegh; his reign lasted thirty years. Some say that Zachariah, on whom be peace! existed in his days.

5. Narsi—the son of Gudarz, reigned twenty years.

6. Gudarz—the son of Narsi,^36a ten years.

7. Narsi, the son of Narsi, reigned eleven years.^38a

8. Ardavan—the son of Narsi, after a reign of thirty-one years, was slain in a battle with Ardeshir-Babegan; and the third Dynasty of Persian Kings became extinct with him.^*

1. Ardeshir Babegan—the son of Sassan. The name of Sassan continued for seventeen generations, from Bahmen the son of Asfendiar. He was surnamed Babegan from his maternal grandfather, who built the city of Babec in Kerman:^40a he reigned forty years. Among the memorials which remain of him, are the cities of Ardeshir Khouzeh^42a in Fars, and Guashir in Kerman, and Ahwaz in Khuzistan.^42b

2. Shapour—the son of Ardeshir; his surname was Tirdeh; he reigned thirty-one years. Of his works are Koureh-Shapour in Fars, Nishapour in Khorassan, Shad-i-Shapour in Casvin, and Jond-i-Shapour in Khuzistan.^*

3. Hormuz—son of Shapour; he was surnamed Batel, and reigned two years. Ram-Hormuz, in Khuzistan, was built by him.

4. Baharam—the son of Hormuz; his surname was Dergar; and he reigned three years and three months.

5. Baharam^44a—the son of Baharam; he was styled Shahendeh, i.e. upright, just; and reigned twenty years.

6. Baharam—the son of Baharam; his surname was Seistan-Shah; and his reign lasted fourteen months.

7. Narsi—the son of Baharam, the son of Baharam; his title was Nakhjerkan. He reigned nine years.

8. Shapour^46a—the son of Hormuz; his surname was Hubeh Sina, that is, the breaker, or piercer of shoulders; and the Arabians style him Dhul’ectaf, because he caused their shoulder blades to be pierced and broken. Mani the painter^46b existed in his time, and, assuming the character of a prophet, exhibited as miraculous the tablets called Arzenk, so admirably painted, that all the fairest objects on the face of the earth, in comparison with these representations of them, seemed to fade away. Also, among the rare productions of his ingenuity, was a certain shirt, which whilst he wore he was visible; having taken it off, he became invisible: he was at last put to death by the hand of Shapour. The memorials of this King are the city of Cazvin, and Toureh Shapour,^* which is also called Oskermekerrum. He reigned seventy-two years.^48a

9. Ardeshir—the brother of Shapour, was surnamed Jemil, and reigned ten years.

10. Shapour—the son of Shapour Zu’lectaf; his title was Kerman-shah; and his reign of thirteen years.

11. Yezdejerd—who, according to the greater number of historians, succeeded Baharam; was surnamed, in the Persian language, Zefet, and Bezekurd; in the Arabick, Athim and Mejerum. He reigned twenty-one years and a half.

12. Baharam^50a—the son of Yezdejerd; his surname was Gour. He was a valiant warrior, a just man, and a lover of festivity and sport. His reign lasted sixty-three years.

13. Yezdejerd^52a—the son of Baharam; he was styled Sipah-dost; and the years of his reign were eighteen.

14. Hormuz—the son of Yezdejerd; his surname was Firzaneh; and his reign of one year.

15. Firouz—the son of Yezdejerd; he was styled Murdaneh. One of his works is Firouz Baharam, in Rey. He reigned ten years.

16. Palash—the son of Firouz; his title was Keranmaieh; and his reign lasted five years.

17. Kobad—the son of Firouz; was surnamed Neekrai, and reigned sixty-four years. Mazdak, the rebellious founder of an heretical sect, existed in his time. The place called Arjan Goureh in Gilouieh, and Hulwan, are remains of his works.

18. Jamasp—the son of Firouz; was surnamed Nekarein.

19. Kesri—the son of Kobad; his surnames were Anushirvan,^54a and Molk al adel, or the just king. He reigned forty-eight years; and our prophet (Mohammed) on whom be the blessing of God! was born in his time. In the eighth year after the birth of that holy personage, this upright monarch died: and vestiges of his works are at Roumieh in Madaien.^56a

20. Hormuz—the son of Anushirvan; his mother was Kakim, the daughter of the Khakan, from which circumstance he was called Turkzad; he was so wicked, tyrannical, and blood-thirsty, that in the twelve years of his reign, thirteen thousand six hundred persons of illustrious rank, among the Persians, were put to death by his command. He was, himself, slain in the twentieth year after the birth (of Mohammed.

21. Khosru^58a—the son of Hormuz; he was surnamed Parviz, or the Victorious. In his time the prophet, to whom be peace! entered on his divine mission; that holy personage invited the king to the true faith, which he rejected, tearing in pieces the letter (of Mohammed.) * * * * And Persia, from his magnificence, and the superabundance of all necessaries, arrived at the summit of its glory. It is said, among other matters, that he constantly kept in his palace fifteen thousand female musicians, six thousand household officers, twenty thousand five hundred horses and mules for the saddle and for baggage; also, nine hundred and sixty elephants. Whenever he rode forth, two hundred persons attended him, scattering perfumes on every side, whilst a thousand sekabers (water carriers) sprinkled with water the roads which he was to pass. Among the works of ingenuity which he possessed,^60a was a certain cup, in which the quantity of water was never diminished, how much soever a person drank of it; also, an (expanded) hand of ivory, which, whenever a child was born to him, being immersed in water, closed, and exhibited the conjunction of stars presiding at the infant’s birth, and thus the horoscope was known: he had likewise a piece of pure gold, pliable and soft as wax; also a napkin, which, when soiled, and thrown into the fire, became clean. In his time, white elephants brought forth young ones in Persia. What person, in harmonious powers, resembles his musician Barbud? or, who in beauty is equal to his mistress Shireen? At last, in the seventh hour of the night, on Tuesday the tenth of Jemad-al-awul, the seventh year of the Hegira,^62a he was slain by the hand of his son, Shirouieh.

22. Kobad—the son of Khosru; he was surnamed Shirouieh,^* and lived six months after his father.

23. Ardeshir—the son of Shirouieh; his surname was Kouchek; his reign of one year and a half.

24. Kesri—the son of Kobad, the son of Hormuz, the son of Anushirvan, was surnamed Goutah.

25. Pouran-dokht—the daughter of Khosru Parviz, was styled Saiedeh.^64a Meat cooked in a particular manner is called Pourani, after her. And the holy prophet in her time departed this life. Her reign lasted six months.^66a

26. Azermi-dokht—sister to Pouran-dokht, was surnamed Adeleh; and reigned four months.

27. Ferokh-zad—the son of Khosru Parviz, was surnamed Bakhtyar; and reigned one month.

28. Yezdejerd—the son of Shahryar, the son of Khosru Parviz; he is called Molk al akhir, or the last King. He ascended the throne of the Persian monarchs, in the month Sefer of the eleventh year of the Hegira,^* which is the beginning of the Yezdejerdean æra. As the true religion had prevailed, and the Musulmans by degrees reduced the power of Yezdejerd, he fled from their hands to Merou; and there, in the month^\&\#x2020\; Shehur, of the thirty-second year of the Hegira, he was put to death: and with him the ancient race of the Persian kings became extinct.^68a

Of the number of years assigned to the reigns of particular kings, the Persian historians so considerably disagree in their accounts, that any attempt to reconcile them, at present, would exceed the limits which I have prescribed to this Epitome. Much confusion may have arisen from mistaking the years of a king’s life for those of his reign; to what extent it has prevailed, will appear from the following general statements of each Dynasty’s duration, according to various records, differing in their calculations from the Tarikh Jehan Ara.

I reserve for my future work, a more minute calculation of each particular King’s reign, taken from the Tarikh Tabari, the Tarikh Moagem, the Subah Saduk, the Rouzet al Sefa, the Khelasset al Akhbar, the Zein al Akhbar, the Nizam al Towarikh, and many other records, which I shall endeavour to reconcile with the dates of European chronologers.

The frontispiece represents those ruins at Istakhar, which are generally called Chehel Minar, “the Forty Pillars,” or Takht-i-Jemsheid, “the Throne of Jemsheid.” Most travellers and antiquaries suppose Istakhar to have been the ancient Persepolis, and these columns the remains of Darius’s palace: the natives sometimes call them Khaneh Dara “the House of Darius,” as Kæmpfer informs us. Of the view given by that most ingenious traveller, in his Amœnitates Exoticœ, p. 325, the frontispiece is a reduced copy.

The Pehlavi gem, represented in the vignette of the title page, is supposed to be placed (without any regard to proportion) on a fire altar, of which the idea is taken from medals of the Sassanides. As even a vignette may be rendered instructive, I have given, on the upper part of the altar, some of the arrow-headed or Persepolitan letters, from Niebuhr, Kœmpfer, &c. so that the young student of Persian antiquities may have before him, at one view, specimens of the two most ancient characters of Iràn. I have placed, as guardians of the altar, an Azhdeha, or Dragon, and the Simorgh, a bird of immense bulk and strength, both imaginary creatures, whose names are well known to the readers of Persian romance; their figures are taken from paintings in the Shah Namah and other manuscripts.

The gem (of the real size) is from a paste in Mr. Tassie’s collection; and thus described in his Catalogue, Vol. I. p. 67, No. 679: “Sardonyx—a figure in a long robe, with a globe or lotus on the forehead, holding a small cup in the right hand: In the field are the sun and moon, with an inscription,” &c. An engraving of the gem, enlarged, is also given in the second Vol. pl. XIII, but the characters are inaccurately imitated; they appear on the paste to form two words, which I would read thus, using Hebrew letters to describe the Pehlavi: in modern Persick Atoun Shahpouhri, fignifying “The fire-genius of Shapour.”

Atoun, in Pehlavi, according to M. Anquetil du Perron,^* was synonimous with Ader, or Atere; “the several fires which have appeared to men under particular forms, and the Genii themselves, who preside over those fires.”^* Thus the Atoun Bourzin, in two passages of the Boun dehesh,^\&\#x2020\; is styled Ader Bourzin, in the Ieschts Sades,^\&\#x2021\; where, and in other parts of the Zendavesta, we find the Ader of Behram, of Goshasp, &c. The figure seems to be that of a female: in the Vendidad Sadè we find an address to female spirits: “Je prie ces femelles, assembleé toujours vivante,” &c.^\&\#xa7\;

From the Ferhung Borhan Katee (which, like the Ferhung Jehangeeri, has a very long and curious article on fire-worship) it also appears that the same word signified a fire-temple, and the angel or Genius that presided over it. Thus we find, that Azer Gushasp was the name of a fire temple erected by Gushtasp at Balkh, &c. “and it is the name of the angel that superintended, or presided over, the fire.”

If the authority of M. Anquetil du Perron be admitted, my explanation of this gem will, probably, be found satisfactory: I offer it, however, (as every conjecture on doubtful matters) with extreme diffidence, and shall most readily adopt any well-founded emendation.

The MAP, though small, will serve to shew the relative situations of the provinces and chief cities of Persia. I have devoted some months to the construction of another, comprehending the same extent of country, but so enlarged in scale as to occupy a space of six feet by five. This will contain many hundred names of towns, rivers, mountains, ruins, rebats and caravanserais, wells, monuments, &c. inserted from original manuscripts, which are not to be found in Mr. Wahl’s very excellent map,^* nor in any other hitherto published.

In the head-piece, prefixed to this Appendix, are representations of three gems, of the real size, taken from impressions in paste. Of the two uppermost, the original cornelians are preserved in the British Museum—one represents a female with a child on her lap; some of the letters are defaced, but the name of Hormisdi, appears sufficiently legible in Pehlavi; the other characters seem to form apistan, alluding, perhaps, to the infant state of Hormisdi, at the breast^* of his nurse or mother, whose name may probably be added. Not having yet had leisure to study the inscription attentively, I shall not, in this place, offer any further conjectures on the subject.

For the same reason I present to the reader, without any observation, the figure of a winged Lion, with a Pehlavi inscription.

The third gem, is described in Tassie’s Catalogue (Vol. I. p. 74) as an Oriental garnet, containing “The portrait of an Indian chief—with Indian characters, something like the Sanscrit.” As I suspect the characters to partake more of Pehlavi than Sanscrit, they are here submitted to the inspection of Antiquarian Orientalists.

The rude outlines, which the reader will perceive in this head-piece, represent the combat of Rustam with the Dive Sefeed, or white giant; reduced from a painting in my Shah Nameh, of which a large engraving will be found in the Oriental Collections, Vol. II. p. 53; and another combat of some warrior with a monster, winged and horned, from a Persepolitan seal in cornelian, preserved, with many others of the same kind, in the British Museum. Similar combats are sculptured on the marbles at Persepolis; and it is possible that the ancient heroes celebrated in the Shah Nameh, and represented in these sculptures, may be the same.^*

No. II. The following passage was by accident omitted in printing the foregoing pages: it concludes the account of Ardeshir Babegan.

“And NERD is of his invention; for this reason the Arabs call it Nerdshir.” The word Nard or Nerd, according to the dictionaries Luttayef al Loghat, Jehangeeri, Kashf-al-loghat, &c. signifies a well known game, (draughts, perhaps backgammon), and the pith of a tree.

The invention of draughts is generally ascribed to Buzurjemher, the vizier of Nushirvan, who did not reign until three centuries after Ardeshir: this vizier introduced chess, an Indian game, into Persia; and the Ferhung Borhan Kattee informs us, that Buzurjemher devised Nerd, on the plan or in imitation of chess; but that Nerd was played with two dice, and, according to some, was of a more ancient origin.

III. It appears from the Tarikh Moagem, and the Nozhat al Coloub, that the Bandukvar, (or more properly Band-kouar) mentioned in p. 23, was a mound or dyke, erected by Ardeshir Bahman, to raise or convey water, for the little but pleasant town of Kouar, in the province of Fars.

Account of the Geographical Persian Manuscript, intitled Mesalek ù Memalek.

Having mentioned in the preface, (p. xxiv) my future translation of the Mesalek ù Memalek, I shall here give a short description of that manuscript, which is equally ancient as it is rare and curious Although I have not yet been able to ascertain the author’s name, it is evident, from two passages in the work itself, that he must have existed before the year 424 of the Hegira, (of Christ 1032); for, in his account of Spain, he describes the Ommiad Dynasty as still governing in that country; and adds, that “The Abbassides have not yet snatched it from them;” he must, therefore, have written before the year above mentioned, when the reign of the Ommiades ceased.

In another part of his work, describing Maweralnahr, or Transoxania, he informs us that he conversed with a respectable personage who had attended Nasser Ahmed in his battles.

This Prince, of the Samanian Dynasty, was invested with the government of Maweralnahr, by the Khalif Motamed, Anno Hegiræ 261, (A. D. 874); and if our author could have spoken with a contemporary of Nasser Ahmed, we may reasonably date the composition of his work early in the fourth century of the Mohammedan æra, between the year 900 and 1000 of Christ.

It appears that he visited, himself, many of the places he describes: confining his work to the limits of Islam (the Mohammedan world), he begins with a general description of its seas, the western regions of Africa, Spain, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Irak Arabi, Khusistan or Susiana, Pars or Farsistan, its five Kourehs or districts, fire-temples, ancient castles, rivers, cities, roads, and distances from various towns to others; the air, water, soil, &c. of Farsistan; inhabitants ancient and modern, manners, dialects, religions, &c. extraordinary buildings and monuments of antiquity; Istakhar, &c., produce, taxes, revenue, &c. description of Kirman, cities, mountains, roads, &c. part of Sind and Hind; Armenia, Arran and Azerbaijan, rivers, roads, hills, &c. Kouhestan, Irak Ajemi, Taberistan, Khorasan, Dilem, Mazanderan, Khozr, or the regions bordering on the Caspian Sea; Maweralnahr, or Transoxania; deserts between Fars and Khorasan; Sejestan, its lakes, rivers, roads, cities, &c. Ferghanah, Samarcand, Bokhara, Balkh, &c.

Thus he describes the route from Shiraz, to Kattah, on the road of Khorasan:

“From Shiraz to Dukak, 6 farsangs—from Dukak to Istakhar, 6 f.—from Istakhar to Pir-Kurieh, 4 f.—from Pir-Kurieh to Kohendiz, 6 f.— and from Kohendiz to Dhey-bend, 8 f.—from Dhey-bend to Aber-kouh, 12 f.—from Aberkou to Dhey-shir, 13 f.— from Dhey-shir to Hawr, 6 f.— from Hawr to Kelaa Majious, (the Castle of the Magi), which is now in ruins, 6 f.—and from Kelaa Majious to the town of Kattah, 5 f. &c.” The city of Istakhar still existed when our author wrote; for he says,

“Istakhar is a city, neither small nor great; more ancient than any city, whatsoever, of Pars; in extent about one mile; and the Kings of Pars had their dwellings there; and Ardeshir resided in that place; and there is a tradition that, &c.” In another chapter he classes the statues, inscriptions, and buildings at Istakhar, amongst the wonders of Persia.

But any farther notice of the Mesalek ù Memalek would be here unnecessary, as my translation of the whole work, in one volume quarto, will, I hope, be ready for publication at the close of the present year.