terminated by holes filled with charcoal. Round the upper
surface of this solid circular cylinder, and completely
hiding the interior from view, is a stone parapet, 10 or 12
feet in height. This it is which, when viewed from the
outside, appears to form one piece with the solid
stone-work, and being, like it, covered with chunam, gives
the whole the appearance of a low tower. The upper surface
of the solid stone column is divided into 72 compartments,
or open receptacles, radiating like the spokes of a wheel
from the central well, and arranged in three concentric
rings, separated from each other by narrow ridges of stone,
which are grooved to act as channels for conveying all
moisture from the receptacles into the well and into the
lower drains. It should be noted that the number "3" is
emblematical of Zoroaster's three precepts, and the number
"72" of the chapters of his Yasna, a portion of the
Zend-Avestá.

Each circle of open stone coffins is divided from the next
by a pathway, so that there are three circular pathways, the
last encircling the central well, and these three pathways
are crossed by another pathway conducting from the solitary
door which admits the corpse-bearers from the exterior. In
the outermost circle of the stone coffins are placed the
bodies of males, in the middle those of the females, and in
the inner and smallest circle nearest the well those of
children.

While I was engaged with the secretary in examining the
model, a sudden stir among the vultures made us raise our