ing clusters that the whole plain seemed a patchwork of many colours. The dogs, as they returned from hunting, issued from the long grass dyed red, yellow or blue, according to the flowers through which they had last forced their way.

"I encamped on the edge of a large pond on the outskirts of Nimroud. Said accompanied me; and Salah, his young wife, a bright-eyed Arab girl, built up his shed, and watched and milked his diminutive flock of sheep and goats. When I returned in the evening after the labour of the day, I often sat at the door of my tent . . . Over the pure, cloudless sky was the glow of the last light. The great mound threw its dark shadow far across the plain. In the distance, and beyond the Zab, Keshaf, another venerable ruin, rose indistinctly into the evening mist. Still more distant, and still more indistinct, was a solitary hill overlooking the ancient city of Arbela. The Kurdish mountains, whose snowy summits cherished the dying sunbeams, yet struggled with the twilight. The bleating of sheep, and lowing of cattle, at first faint, became louder as the flocks returned from their pastures, and wandered amongst the tents. Girls hurried over the greensward to seek their fathers' cattle, or crouched down to milk those which had returned alone to their well remembered folds. Some were coming from the river, bearing the replenished pitcher on their heads or shoulders; others were carrying the heavy load of long grass which they had cut in the meadows. Sometimes a party of horsemen might have been seen in the distance slowly crossing the plain, the tufts of ostrich feathers which topped their long spears showing darkly against the evening sky. They would ride up to my tent, and give me the usual salutation,' Peace be with you, O Bey.' Then driving the end of their lances into the ground, they would spring from their mares, and fasten their halters to the still quivering weapons. Seating themselves on the grass, they related deeds of war and plunder, until the moon rose, when they vaulted into their saddles, and took the way of the desert."

Completion of the Excavations at Nimroud.

"Before leaving Nimroud and re-burying its palaces, I would wish to lead the reader once more through the ruins of the principal edifice, and to convey as distinct an idea

as I am able of the excavated halls and chambers, as they appeared when fully explored. Let us imagine ourselves issuing from my tent near the village in the plain. On approaching the mound, not a trace of building can be perceived, except a small mud hut covered with reeds, erected for the accommodation of my Chaldæan workmen. We ascend this artificial hill, but still see no ruins, not a stone protruding from the soil. There is only a broad level platform before us, perhaps covered with a luxuriant crop of barley, or may be yellow and parched, without a blade of vegetation, except here and there a scanty tuft of camel-thorn. Low black heaps, surrounded by brushwood and dried grass, a thin column of smoke issuing from the midst of them, may be seen here and there. These are the tents of the Arabs; and a few miserable old women are groping about them, picking up camels' dung or dry twigs. One or two girls, with firm step and erect carriage, are perceived just reaching the top of the mound, with the water-jar on their shoulders, or a bundle of brushwood on their heads. On all sides of us, apparently issuing from under- ground, are long lines of wild-looking beings with dishevelled hair, their limbs only half concealed by a short loose shirt, some jumping and capering, and all hurrying to and fro shouting like madmen. Each one carries a basket, and as he reaches the edge of the mound, or some convenient spot near, empties its contents, raising at the same time a cloud of dust. He then returns at the top of his speed, dancing and yelling as before, and flourishing his basket over his head; again he suddenly disappears in the bowels of the earth, from whence he emerged. These are the workmen employed in removing the rubbish from the ruins.

"We will descend into the principal trench, by a flight of steps rudely cut into the earth, near the western face of the mound. As we approach it, we find a party of Arabs bending on their knees, and intently gazing at something beneath them. Each holds his long spear, tufted with ostrich feathers, in one hand, and in the other the halter of his mare, which stands patiently behind him. The party consists of a Bedouin Sheikh from the desert, and his followers; who, having heard strange reports of the wonders of Nimroud, have made several days' journey to remove their doubts, and satisfy their curiosity. He rises as he hears us approach, and if we wish to escape the embrace

of a very dirty stranger, we had better at once hurry into the trenches.

"We descend about twenty feet, and suddenly find ourselves between a pair of colossal lions, winged and humanheaded, forming a portal. I have already described my feelings when gazing for the first time on these majestic figures. Those of the reader would probably be the same, particularly if caused by the reflection, that before those wonderful forms Ezekiel,Jonah, and others of the prophets stood, and Sennacherib bowed; that even the patriarch Abraham himself may possibly have looked upon them.

"In the subterraneous labyrinth which we have reached, all is bustle and confusion. Arabs are running about in different directions; some bearing baskets filled with earth, others carrying the water-jars to their companions. The Chaldæans or Tiyari, in their striped dresses and curious conical caps, are digging with picks into the tenacious earth, raising a dense cloud of fine dust at every stroke. The wild strains of Kurdish music may be heard occasionally issuing from some distant part of the ruins, and if they are caught by the parties at work, the Arabs join their voices in chorus, raise the war-cry, and labour with renewed energy. Leaving behind us a small chamber, in which the sculptures are distinguished by a want of finish in the execution, and considerable rudeness in the design of the ornaments, we issue from between the winged lions, and enter the remains of the principal hall. On both sides of us are gigantic winged figures; some with the heads of eagles, others entirely human, and carrying mysterious symbols in their hands. To the left is another portal, also formed by winged lions. One of them has, however, fallen across the entrance, and there is just room to creep beneath it. . ." Mr. Layard continues to lead his readers from chamber to chamber, and hall to hall; but those who have not read his entire work would scarcely understand the details. "Whichever way we turn, we find ourselves in the midst of a nest of rooms; and without an acquaintance with the intricacies of the place, we should soon lose ourselves in this labyrinth We may wander through these galleries for an hour or two, examining the marvellous sculptures, or the numerous inscriptions that surround Here we meet long rows of kings, attended by their eunuchs and priests Other entrances, formed by winged lions and bulls, lead us into new chambers. In

us.

every one of them are fresh objects of curiosity and surprise. At length, wearied, we issue from the buried edifice by a trench on the opposite side to that by which we entered, and find ourselves again upon the naked platform. We look around in vain for any traces of the wonderful remains we have just seen, and are half inclined to believe that we have dreamed a dream." The ruins of Nimroud have been again covered up, and her palaces hidden; and the grass will again grow over the mounds, leaving no trace of all here described.

Kalah Sherghat.

The night on which Mr. Layard and his companions encamped before Kalah Sherghat was one to be long remembered. Long peals of thunder were heard above the roaring of the wind and the noise of the rain which fell in torrents. The surrounding scenery was made visible, partly by the great fire which the Arabs were obliged to make to guard against the dangerous effects of cold and damp, and partly by the streams of vivid lightning. The great mound was like a mountain rising against the dark sky, and thousands of jackals in the ruins sent forth their dismal cry, in concert with the owl. Desolate indeed was the scene! The river is gradually gaining upon and undermining the ruins, having exposed to view parts of buildings, vases, sarcophagi, &c. Kalah Sherghat might become again a place of importance. It is well suited for a station and post of defence, and the rich lands around might be cultivated without much difficulty. The caravans which carry on trade between Mosul and Bagdad, now make a detour to the left of the Tigris, passing the towns of Asbil and Kerkouk, and skirting the Kurdish hills, to avoid the enmity of some Arab tribes. But if the population of Mesopotamia were more settled, the high road between Mosul and Bagdad would be carried along the western banks, and Kalah Sherghat rise from its ruins. This road would be direct and short, and there would be no streams and torrents, as on the other side, to detain the caravans. Formerly, no doubt, there was a line of settlements and stations on both sides of the river, but wild tribes now encamp there, and the merchant's task is a perilous one.

The principal mound of Kalah Sherghat is one of the largest ruins in Assyria . . . That it was one of the most

...

ancient cities of that country, the identification of the name of the king, found on its monuments and bricks, with that of the founder of the centre palace of Nimroud, sufficiently proves. It has shared the prosperity and the desolation of Nineveh.

Remarks on the Assyrian Empire.

We appear to be justified in attributing the highest antiquity to the Assyrian empire. In the land of Shinar, in the country watered by the Tigris and Euphrates, the Scripture places the earliest habitations of the human race. In the earliest times it was believed both by Egyptians and Jews, that the first settlements were in Assyria; and that from Chaldea, civilization, and the arts and sciences, were spread over the world. Abraham and his family, above 1900 years before Christ, migrated from a land already thickly inhabited, and possessing great cities. Josephus states that the four confederate kings who marched against Sodom and the neighbouring cities, were under a king of Assyria, whose empire extended over all Asia. Most of the early Greek authors assign the first kings of Nineveh the remotest antiquity; as do also the Armenian historians. Their united testimony even tends to identify or to confound Ninus, the first king, with Nimrod himself, or with one of the immediate descendants of the scriptural Noah... If the inscriptions of Egypt are correctly interpreted, we have distinct evidence that Nineveh was standing about 1490 years B.C., long before the period usually assigned to its foundation. It would appear to be mentioned in Scripture at least 1500 years before Christ... 1400 years before Christ, Chushan-rishathaim, a king of Mesopotamia, subdued the Israelites; and 1450 years before Christ, Balaam, prophesying of the Kenites, described the power of the Assyrians." (Judges iii. 8; Numb. xxiv. 22.)

Its ancient productions were much the same as at present. Sesame, millet, and corn, grew in rich abundance, and Herodotus, who had visited this fruitful country, says that he dares not mention the height to which the sesame and millet grew. From the sesame, oil was extracted; and such is now the case, although the olive-tree is cultivated at the foot of the Kurdish hills.

"The palm-tree also grew in great abundance. It does