Further researches at Kouyunjik could scarcely fail to be productive of many interesting and important results. The inscriptions hitherto found amongst the ruins are few in number. The bas-reliefs evidently relate to great events,―to the conquest of distant kingdoms, and the subjugation of powerful nations. The identity of the name of the king who caused them to be executed, with that found on the well-known tablets near Beyrout, at the mouth of the Dog river, or the Nahr-elKelb, proves that the Assyrian Empire, at the time of the building of the Kouyunjik palaces, extended to the borders of the Mediterranean; and this, as well as several other circumstances, goes far to show, that the bas-reliefs in which the sea is represented, celebrate the conquest of Tyre or Sidon. But shape, and with a flat vault. On either side, recesses or niches" (resembling a small oven)" are cut into the wall, evidently to hold a body. These niches, being only about four feet long, may be thought too small to receive a man; but I imagine that the corpse was crammed into a sarcophagus, similar to those discovered at Nimroud, which the recesses are well calculated to contain. These tombs must once have been closed; now they have small doors and even windows; those in the large tablet are numerous, and give the idea of a church. The whole cliff would have made an extremely pretty sketch. The windows of the large cave are close together in pairs, and arched. Being without a ladder, I could not get into them, and could not therefore ascertain whether they belonged to one large chamber, or to several adjoining chambers. I am inclined to think that the latter is the case. It would seem that these bas-reliefs covered royal tombs, with concealed entrances, which were, at a later period, broken open and pillaged, and afterwards converted into dwellings, and the windows opened. It is possible that chambers still unrifled might be found behind the smaller tablets. I suspect that the inscription has been injured by holes having been bored into it to make an opening, and that the attempt was subsequently abandoned. There are various signs and religious emblems scattered about-chiefly representations of the sun and moon." It is to be regretted that Mr. Ross was unable to take a copy of the inscription, which would probably have enabled me to ascertain the comparative epoch of the tablets, with reference to the ruins of the Assyrian palaces. His suggestion, with regard to these bas-reliefs marking places of sepulture, is well deserving of attention. It is possible that I may, at some future period, be able to examine these rock sculptures with the attention they deserve, and to determine their use. At present there is reason to believe that the chambers belong to a more recent period than the Assyrian bas-reliefs; but their date has not been satisfactorily determined, and they may after all have been wha' Mr. Ross conjectures. 1 I will defer to another chapter any further remarks upon the nistorical and other information afforded by the sculptures of Kouyunjik, and upon the importance of further researches. My labors in Assyria had now drawn to a close. The funds assigned to the Trustees of the British Museum for the excavations had been expended, and from the instructions sent to me, further researches were not, for the present at least, contemplated. It now, therefore, only remained for me to wind up my affairs in Mosul, to bid adieu to my friends there, and to turn my steps homewards, after an absence of some years. The ruins of Nimroud had been again covered up, and its palaces were once more hidden from the eye. The sculptures taken from them had been safely removed to Busrah, and were now awaiting their final transport to England. The inscriptions, which promise to instruct us in the history and civilization of one of the most ancient and illustrious nations of the earth, had been carefully copied. On looking back upon the few months that I had passed in Assyria, I could not but feel some satisfaction at the result of my labors. Scarcely a year before, with the exception of the ruins of Khorsabad, not one Assyrian monument was known. Almost sufficient materials had now been obtained to enable us to restore much of the lost history of the country, and to confirm the vague traditions of the learning and civilization of its people, hitherto treated as fabulous. It had often occurred to me during my labors, that the time of the discovery of these remains was so opportune, that a person inclined to be superstitious might look upon it as something more than accidental. Had these palaces been by chance exposed to view some years before, no one would have been ready to take advantage of the circumstance, and they would have been completely destroyed by the inhabitants of the country. Had they been discovered a little later, it is highly probable that there would have been insurmountable objections to their removal. It was consequently just at the right moment that they were disinterred; and we have been fortunate enough to acquire the most convincing, and lasting evidence of that magnificence and power which made Nineveh the wonder of the ancient world, and her fall the theme of the prophets, as the most signal instance of divine vengeance. Without the evidence that these monuments afford, we might almost have doubted that the great Nineveh ever existed, so completely "has she become a desolation and a waste." Before my departure I was desirous of giving a last entertainment to my workmen, and to those who had kindly aided ine in my labors. On the western side of Kouyunjik there is a small village. It belongs, with the mound, to a former slave of a Pasha of the Abd-el-Jelleel family, who had received his liberty, and the land containing the ruins, as a reward for long and faithful services. This village was chosen for the festivities, and tents for the accommodation of all the guests were pitched around it. Large platters filled with boiled rice, and divers inexplicable messes, only appreciated by Arabs, and those who have lived with them,-the chief components being garlic and sour milk,-were placed before the various groups of men and women, who squatted in circles on the ground. Dances were then commenced, and were carried on through the greater part of the night, the Tiyari and the Arabs joining in them, or relieving each other by turns. The dancers were happy and enthusiastic, and kept up a constant shouting. The quiet Christian ladies of Mosul, who had scarcely before this occasion ventured beyond the walls of the town, gazed with wonder and delight on the scene; lamenting, no doubt, that the domestic arrangements of their husbands did not permit more frequent indulgence in such gayeties. At the conclusion of the entertainment I spoke a few words to the workmen, inviting any who had been wronged, or ill-used, to come forward and receive such redress as it was in my power to afford, and expressing my satisfaction at the successful termination of our labors without a single accident. One Sheikh Khalaf, a very worthy man, who was usually the spokesman on such occasions, answered for his companions. They had lived, he said, under my shadow, and, God be praised, no one had cause to complain. Now, that I was leaving, they should leave also, and seek the distant banks of the Khabour, where at least they would be far from the authorities, and be able to enjoy the little they had saved. All they wanted was each man a teskerè, or note, to certify that they had been in my service. This would not only be some protection to them, but they would show my writing to their children, and would tell them of the days they had passed at Nimroud. Please God, I should return to the Jebour, and live in tents with them on their old pasture grounds, where there were as many ruins as at Nimroud, plenty of plunder within reach, and gazelles, wild boars, and lions for the chase. After Sheikh Khalaf had concluded, the women advanced in a body and made a similar address. I gave a few presents to the principal workmen and their wives, and all were highly satisfied with their treatment. A few days afterwards, the preparations for my departure were complete. I paid my last visit to Essad Pasha, called upon the principal people of the town, and on the 24th of June was ready to leave Mosul. I was accompanied on my journey to Constantinople by Mr. Hormuzd Rassam, Ibrahim Agha, and the Bairakdar, and by several members of the household of the late Pasha; who were ready, in return for their own food and that of their horses, to serve me on the road. We were joined by many other travellers, who had been waiting for an opportunity to travel to the north in company with a sufficiently strong party. The country was at this time very insecure. The Turkish troops had marched against Beder Khan Bey, who had openly declared his independence, and defied the authority of the Sultan. The failure of the crops had brought parties of Arabs abroad, and scarcely a day passed without the plunder of a caravan and the murder of travellers. The Pasha sent a body of irregular horse to accompany me as far as the Turkish camp, which I wished to visit on my way. With this escort, and with my own party, all well armed and prepared to defend |