Identifier: historicaldescr00fras (find matches)
Title: Historical and descriptive account of Persia, from the earliest ages to the present time: with a detailed view of its resources, government, population, natural history, and the character of its inhabitants, particularly of the wandering tribes; including a description of Afghanistan and Beloochistan
Year: 1834 (1830s)
Authors: Fraser, James Baillie, 1783-1856
Subjects:
Publisher: New York Harper
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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for all the noble and pious of the land are desirous of burialwithin its precincts. It is surrounded with a double row ofarched niches, all superbly ornamented with lackered tiles,and at either end stands a lofty gateway embellished in thesame fashion, which is probably the most perfect specimen ofthe kind in the world. Neither Jew nor Christian is per-mitted to intrude into this magnificent square under pain ofdeath. From the side of the Sahn a gilded archway admitsthe pilgrim to the mausoleum, the exact form of which it isnot possible to ascertain, on account of the meaner buildingsthat surround it. A silver gate, the gift of Nadir Shah, opensinto the chief apartment, which rises like the centre naveof a cathedral into a noble dome, and branches out in theform of a cross. The whole is adorned with tiles of therichest colours, profuse of azure and gold, disposed in themost tasteful devices, while from the centre depends a largebranched candlestick of solid silver. The dome is covered
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ACCOUNT OF THE PROVINCES OF PERSIA. 61 with gilded tiles ; and from two points,—one near the shrineand one on the opposite side of the Sahn,—rise two lofty-minarets, the lowest parts of which are cased with an azurecoating, while the upper parts and the galleries round the topare richly gilt,—assuredly the most beautiful things of thisdescription in the whole empire. A doorway, in the left archto the north-west, leads into another apartment, richly deco-rated and surmounted with a dome, under which repose theremains of Imam Reza and of the celebrated Haroun al Ras-chid. The shrine is encircled by a railing of wrought steel,inside of which is an incomplete one of solid gold, and manyother glittering objects. It would be endless to detail thesplendour of the various parts of this mausoleum, as dimlyseen by the light of lamp and taper. Combined with thereverential silence, only interrupted by the deep intonationsof Arabic prayers or recitations from the Koran, and with thesolemn mu

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