Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-13
SUPERB PALACE Ar ISPAHAN

The Chshel Setoon. or Palace OF Forty Pillars,
was the favorte residence Of the latter Self kings
and certainly, when we turned into the grand
avenue, and the palace broke upon us, thought
! description was put to silence. Indeed words
can seldom give any thing like JUST idea Of We
~ intricate objects OF sight; but, tor the satisac.
ton of my readers, curious IN comparing the
taste Of times and countries shall attempt come
detail of this Persian Versailles. The exhaust
less profuson Of its splendid materials, reflected,
not merely their own godeH or chrystal lights on
each other, but all the variegated cnlors Of the
gardeh; 81 that the whole suria. seemed fo, med
Of polished 81 yer and m0ther-U of pearl, set with
precious stones. In short the sceue might well
have appeared an Eastern poets dream, or some
magic vision, in the wonderful tales OF an Arabian
night.
When We drew near, found the entire front
Of the building open to the garden; the roof being
sustained by double range OF columns, the
height of which measured eleven Persian wards,
"a Persian ward being forty-four inches,) hence
they rose upwards of forty feet. Each column
shoots up from the united backs of four lions, of
white marble; and the shafts of the columns. H.
sing from these extraordinary bases, were cover
ed with arabesque patterns and foliage, in look :
ing glass, gliding, and painting; some twisting
spirally; others winding in golden wreaths, and
running into lozenSes, stars, connecting circles,
and know DOT what intricacies Of fancy and in.
ginuuus workmanship. The ceiling vas equally
irisnued, with flowers, fruits, birds. butterflies,
and even COUGHING tigers. IN gold, silver, and
painting, amidst hundreds ofinterminging com.
partment Of g!ittering mirrors
AT some distance, within this open chamber,
art two more pillars Of SINH az taste to the range:
and from their capitals springs spacious arch,
forming the entrace to a vast interior saloon, IN
which all the caprices. labors, and cost of Eas.
tern magnifcence, have been lavished to an in
credible productivity The pillars, the walls the
ceiling. might be study for ages, for designers
in these gorgeous Iabyrinthine ornaments. The
floors of both apartments were covered with the
richest carpets, Of the era IN which the building
was constructed. the age OF Shah Abbas, and
were as fresh as u Just laid down; Their eneeds
no other proof of the purity Of the climate.
From one angle of the interior chamber, two
low folding doors opened into a very spacious and
lofty hall, the sides of which were hung with pic
lures Of various dimensions, most OF them de-
scrlplive Of cornwall scenes; and the doors and
pannels OF the room near the floor, being also
embiazoned with the same merry making sub.
jects, fully declared the purpose OF the place.
But a very odd addition was made to the orna-
ments of the wall. Little recesses spotted its
lower range, taking the shapes Of bottles, flag.
ons, gobets, and other useful vessels, all equally
indispensable in those days, at Persian feast;
very different from the temperance which now
presides there; aud how directly the reverse of
the abstemiuusness and its effects, that marked
the board of the great Cyrus!-Sir Il. K. Por-
fer,s Trapels