"[...] As we looked, a strange bird, like a heron, arose with a hoarse cry from the foot of the great image and flew toward the city. "What does it all mean?" I cried. "Where are we?" "Where indeed!" said Nofuhl. "If I knew but that, O Prince, I could tell the rest! No traveller has mentioned these ruins. Persian history contains no record of such a people. Allah has decreed that we discover a forgotten world." Within an hour we landed, and found ourselves in an ancient street, the pavements covered with weeds, grass, and flowers, all crowding together in wild[...]".