Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-05-17

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following passage is iroa keppeWs
Travels in Iadia;
"On the site Of the modern town OF
Bakoo, "a Russian station on the shores
of the Caspian once stood city, cTle-
brated in the times OF the Guebres Tor
its sacred temples on the affairs OF which
blazed perpetual flames Of fire, produ.
ced by ignited napbtha. To this place
thousands of pilgrims paid their annual
visit, till the second expedition OF Tier
aclius against the Persians, when he
wintered in these plains, and destroyed
the temples Of the Magi. The fire
which fed these affairs continues to burn.
and temple is still inhabited by pill.
grims, who, though not Guebres, still
pay their alterations to the holy flames.
To witness this, bad diyerged so great
distance from the usual route of ira
vel.ers returning through Persia to Eu-
rope.
tJuly 6.--i left Bakoo early this NOR
ming, attended by my servant and a
Cossack. Sixteen miles Northeast of
the town, on the extremity of the
Peninsula of Abosbaron, | come, after
ascending hill, in sight of the object of
my curiosity. TITO country around is
an arid rock. Enclosed within a pen
tagonal wall, and standing nearly in the
centre Of the Court, is the fire temple,
small square building, with three
steps leading up to il from each face.
Three bells, of different sizes, are sus-
pended from the roof. Al each corner
is hollow column, higher than the sar-
rounding buildings, from the top of
which issues a bright flame; large FIRE
ofignited haphtha is burning in the mid
die of the Court, and outside several
places are in flames. The pentagon,
which on the outside forms the walls,
comprises in the interior nineteen small
cells, each inhabited by devotee.
"0n approaching the temple, iimme-
diately recognized, by the features Of
the pilgrims, that they were Hindoos.
and not Persian fire worshipers, as
had been taught to expect Some of
them were preparing fosd. I was much
amused at The surprise they showed on
hearing me converse in Hindostany.
The language they spoke was SO mixed
up With the corrupt dialect OF the Tar
tars, that | had some difficulty in I'M
dsrstanding thea. | dismounted from
my horse, and gave il in charge to the
Cossack, whom they would not allow to
enter the temple, giving somewhat in-
consistently, as reason, that he was an
infdel. followed one Of the pilgrims,
who first took me into . cell, where a
Brahim, for so bis thread proclaimed
him, was engaged in prayer The con.
stitudonsl apathy OF the Indian was
strongly marked in the reception this
man gave me.
"The appearance OF an armed Euro
pean, it would be supposed, would have
alarned one Of his timed cast; he tes-
tilted, however, neither fear nor sur.
prise, but continued his devotions, with
hls eyes fxed on the wall, not deigning
to honor nae with a look till bis prayers
were over, whsa be calmly and ciyily
baGe me welcome 10 his poor retreat
My first acquaintance and the BrahmiR
then accompanied me round the other
cells, which were white washed, and
remarkably clean. In one of them was
the officiating priest ofths Firsgee cast
This faquiR were only smah cloth
round his lOins; he held piece OF red
silk in his right hand, and wore Or bis
head cap of tigers skin; this is, l be.
lieve, emblematicsl If the life of the
wearer, who, on leaving zhe society of
man, is supposed TO have recourse 20
the skins of wild beasts for q covering.
In small recess, stood figure of
Vishnoo, and near il, one OF the Hu.
noomauH,
~--Nhe
49, IL T.