'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎235] (300/905)

CHAP. XI.]
FINE ARTS.
235
the Sefi wars in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
The Persians have produced some treatises on medicine, astro
nomy, and other sciences, besides some valuable historical 1
and geographical 2 works, as well as others on ethics, theology,
and polemics; but it is chiefly in poetry 3 that the Persians
excel, and this has been successfully cultivated in every
branch. 4
Sculpture, among the Persians, has gone on declining since Sculpture,
the Sassanian period; and that of the latter period is far
inferior to the sculpture of the Persepolitan age. The paint
ings on the walls of the palaces are scarcely superior to those
of the Chinese, to which, indeed, they have much resemblance
in the brightness of colouring, and in the faults of per
spective.
The Persian music is superior to that of the Arabs; and in Music,
softness it has the advantage of the Turkish ; but the violins,
cymbals, drums, and tambourines of all these people are nearly
equally rude.
Over the whole of Persia may be seen that delicate kind of Architecture,
arch, which, with some modification, constitutes the principal
feature of the Saracenic, Moorish, Gothic, and Saxon archi
tecture ; and here, as elsewhere, it is made to spring from
light pillars, much ornamented. The palaces, mosques, col
leges, bazars, khans, domes, tanks, and light bridges of this
kingdom, are constructed with taste ; and the Persians, being
excellent masons, as well as adepts in stucco work, their
buildings (private houses especially) are superior to those of
the Turks, as well as of most of the other eastern people.
But it is in the construction of bunds, open canals, and the
mining operations connected with that important work the
Kahreez, that the Persians most excel.
1 Such as Mirkhoud's History of the Kings, Prophets, and Khahfs; Ta-
barl (Chronicles); the Universal History of Al-beydawi; the Jihdn Ara,
&c.
2 Such as the Wonders of Creation, the Seven Climates, &c.
s The SMh Ndmeh', of Ferdusi (their Homer), and Ansari (king of poets),
graced the eleventh century. .
* Sadi, Ahii Muhammed Nizdmi, and the soft but lofty strains ot Hahz,
are well known.
2 H 2