jecture could be formed as to the contents of the mound, or as to the nature of the buildings I was exploring. Only detached and unconnected walls had been discovered, and it could not even be determined which side of them had been laid bare. The experiment had been fairly tried; there was no longer any doubt of the existence not only of sculptures and inscriptions, but even of large edifices. in the interior of the mound of Nimroud, as all parts of it that had yet been examined, furnished remains of buildings and carved slabs. I lost no time, therefore, in acquainting Sir Stratford Canning with my discovery, and in urging the necessity of a Firman, or order from the Porte, which would prevent any future interference on the part of the authorities, or the inhabitants of the country. It was now nearly Christmas, and as it was desirable to remove from the mound all the tombs, which had been made by the Pasha's orders, and others, more genuine, which had since been found, I came to an understanding on the subject with Daoud Agha. I covered over the sculptures brought to light, and withdrew altogether from Nimroud, leaving an agent at Selamiyah. On entering Mosul on the morning of the 18th of December, I found the whole population in a ferment of joy. A Tatar had that morning brought from Constantinople the welcome news that the Porte, at length alive to the wretched condition of the province, and to the misery of the inhabitants, had disgraced the governor, and had named Ismail Pasha, a young Major-General of the new school, to carry on affairs until Hafiz Pasha, who had been appointed to succeed Keritli Oglu, could reach his government. Only ten days previously the inhabitants had been well-nigh driven to despair by the arrival of a Firman, confirming Mohammed Pasha for another year; but this only proved a trick on the part of the secretaries of the Porte to obtain the presents which are usually given on these occasions, and which the Pasha, on receipt of the document, hastened to remit to Constantinople. Ilis Excellency was consequently doubly aggrieved by the loss of his Pashalic and of his money. Ismail Pasha, who had been for some time in command of the troops at Diarbekir, had gained a great reputation for justice amongst the Mussulmans, and for tolerance amongst the Christians. Consequently his appointment had given much satisfaction to the people of Mosul, who were prepared to receive him. with demonstration. However, he slipped into the town during the night, some time before he had been expected. On the following morning a change had taken place at the Serai, and Mohamined Pasha, with his followers, were reduced to extremities. The dragoman of the Consulate, who had business to transact with the late Governor, found him sitting in a dilapidated chamber, through which the rain penetrated without hindrance. "Thus it is," said he, "with God's creatures. Yesterday all those dogs were kissing my feet; to-day every one, and everything, falls upon me, even the rain!" During these events the state of the country rendered the continuation of my researches at Nimroud almost impossible. I determined, therefore, to proceed to Baghdad, to make arrangements for the removal of the sculptures at a future period, and to consult generally with Major Rawlinson, from whose experience and knowledge I could derive the most valuable assistance. A raft having been constructed, I started with Mr. Hector, a gentleman from Baghdad, who had visited me at Nimroud, and reached that city on the 24th of December. CHAP. III. RETURN TO MOSUL. -ISMAIL PASHA. — CHANGE - IN THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY. - RETURN TO NIMROUD. — THE RUINS IN SPRING.— EXCAVATIONS RESUMED. — FURTHER DISCOVERIES. NEW INTERRUPTIONS.—SHEIKH ABD-UR RAHMAN AND THE ABOU SALMAN ARABS. FRESHI BAS-RELIEFS IN THE NORTH-WEST CORNER.- DISCOVERY OF THE PRINCIPAL PALACE. ENTIRE BASRELIEFS. DISCOVERY OF THE GIGANTIC LIONS. -SURPRISE OF THE ARABS. — SENSATION AT MOSUL, AND CONDUCT OF THE PASHA AND CADI. — EXCAVATIONS STOPPED. — FURTHER DISCOVERIES. – DESCRIPTION OF THE HUMAN-HEADED LIONS. -REFLECTIONS ON THEIR ANTIQUITY AND OBJECT. -THE JEBOUR ARABS. — THEIR SHEIKIIS. —A KURDISHI CHIEF. NIMROUD IN MARCH. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAIN AT SUNSET. — THE TUNNEL OF NEGOUB. -AN ASSYRIAN INSCRIPTION. - On my return to Mosul in the beginning of January, ON I found Ismail Pasha installed in the government. He received me with courtesy, offered no opposition to the continuation of my researches at Nimroud, and directed the irregular troops stationed at Selamiyah to afford me every assistance and protection. The change since my departure had been as sudden as great. A few conciliatory acts on the part of the new Governor, an order from the Porte for an inquiry into the sums unjustly levied by the late Pasha, with a view to their repayment, and a promise of a diminution of taxes, had so far reassured and gained the confidence of those who had fled to the mountains and the desert, that the inhabitants of the villages were slowly returning to their homes; and even the Arab tribes, which were formerly accustomed to pasture their flocks in the districts of Mosul, were again. pitching their tents on the banks of the Tigris. The diminished population of the province had been so completely discouraged by the repeated extortions of Keritli Oglu, that the fields had been left untilled. The villagers were now actively engaged, although the season was already far advanced, in sowing grain of various kinds. The palace was filled with Kurdish chiefs and Arab Sheikhs, who had accepted the invitation of the new Pasha to visit the town, and were seeking investiture as heads of their respective tribes. The people of Mosul were looking forward to an equal taxation, and the abolition of the system of torture and arbitrary exactions, which had hitherto been adopted by their governors. During my absence my agents had not been inactive. Several trenches had been opened in the great mound of Baasheikha; and fragments of sculpture and inscriptions, with entire pottery and inscribed bricks, had been discovered there. At Karamles a platform of brickwork had been uncovered, and the Assyrian origin of the ruin was proved by the inscription on the bricks, which contained the name of the Khorsabad king. I rode to Nimroud on the 17th of January, having first engaged a party of Nestorian Chaldæans to accompany me. The change that had taken place in the face of the country during my absence, was no less remarkable |