American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-07-15
e, Per.ers Travels in Georgia. Persia, Babylonic, &c
BABYLON.

father of Nebuchadnexzar, that Babylon attained
acme OF glory under that great Prince himself
"A in advancing towards its prodigious remains. it
~ not be disagreeable to refresh our memory OF
subject little by clear view of The city, as it is
nreseued in the descriptions of our best authorl-
according to Herodotus, The walls were 60 miles
circumference, built OF large bricks, cemented
pether with bitumen, and raised round the city in
form Of an exact square; hence they measured
miles along each face, They were 81 feet thick
$50 high, protected on the outside by vast
m lined with the same materials, and proper
ned 10 depth and width to the elevation of the
H. They were entered by 25 gates on each
b made of solid brass, and additionally strength,
ii by $50 towers. Within these walls rose the
Lliudinous Streets palaces, and other great works
Babylon, including the temple oil Belus, The hang
eatdens, and all the magnlhcencc which con-
tuled this city the wonder of the world. A branch
the Euphratrs flowed through the city, from the
nth 10 the south; and was crossed by strong
de- constructed at the foundation, of large stones
tened together with lead and iron. While il was
ding, the course Of the river was turned into
ne basin, 10 the west end of the town, which had
In cut 10 The extent Of 40 square miles, and rs
deep, for YET nobler purpose to receive the
he ample stream, while the great artificial banks
er, to secure the country from its too abundant
flow. Canals wee Gu, for this purpose, and
OF these led to the immense basin already des-
bed which, when required. disembogued the riv
into ii, Immense bosom add always continued
receive its superfux returning the water when
tsary, by various sluices, to iruclty the ground.
ping the three great empires OF the east, no tract
The whole appears TO have been so eputed for
illy and riches, as the district OF BabyIona; and
arising from the due management OF This mighty
cam. Herodolus mentions, that even when re-
]e 10 the rank Of province, yielded revenue
Ae Kings OF Persia hat comprised hall their in
me. And the terms in which the Scriptures de-
rie its natural, as well as acquired supremacy,
hchit was the imperial city, evidence he same
cts They call it :" Babylon the glory OF king
pms, the beauty Of the ChaIdee's excellency-the
ady Of Kingdoms given to pleasure; ihs dwelt
rtIesslg and sayest in her heart, 4 am, aud there
no one else beside me-" But now, in the same
Wes,lve language, We may say, +" She sits as a
dow on the ground here is no more throne
tbee' oh daughter OF the Chadeans." Aud, for
abundance OF the country, il has vanished as
gan away, as if the " Bosom of desolalior" had in
Ftd swept it from north to south the whole land,
m the outskirts Of Bagdad to the iarthest stretch
sight, lying melancholy waste.
Alter ride OF newly awakening interest at al
0N every turn OF our heads. we arrived at the
ham oil Hadge Sulieman, about eight miles from
HanderIa Here We halted 10 refresh our horses
lregale ourselves with coffee a beverage much
creased in flavor by our Arab host adding few
DYES to its composition Close TO this place the
ad Is ntersected by canal, full of water, in the
'eF part OF the year; but when we passed il not
uop Of the genial fluid was TO be seen. An hour
ne however brought US 10 view OF something
moisture and vegetation /; the date trees OF the
age Ct Mahow rose before US; and they were
hrst trees of any kind we had seen since we
lied Bagdad. Mahuwii lies four miles from the
adge's Khann; and is only separated from the
W more immediately connected with the remains
BABYLON, by the entertainments of two once noble
Oas, very near each Other and running almost
east and west. In the first which we crossed
DICK bridge, We saw water. These canals
ga at present to be regarded as the boundary,
hence Tie decided yestiges Of the great city com
enee--ahd we soon discovered their widely spread
tracks. In crossing the bridge which leads to
We immense tumuli of temples, palaces, and hr-
'n habltatons OF every description now buried
Snapelsss heaps, and silence profound as the
s'e; could not but feel an INDISPENSABLE awe, In
passing, as it were, into Tie gates OF fallen
Pbyon.'
De'ween this bridge and Hillah (something more
=" eight miles dstant) three piles OF great mag
'uuS particularly attract attentions but there are
Sea' many minor objects to arrest investigation
the way.
~ Tour and quarter more brought US to the
nsast shore of the Euphrales, hitherto, totally
g'pasd from our view by the intervening long and
'ea INES OF ruin, which now proclaimed to US on
sy SIDE that we were. indeed in the midst of
y. aad been Babylon. From the point ON which
ao'd, to the base Of Muiclibe, large masses Of
PNInl I0unOatlGpa IN ~ ri hi. M q
l'in'; natural hills in appearance, than mounds
ssrlhs the remains Of former great and splendid
|Ies. 10 the eastward also, chains OF these un-
aNng heaps were visible, but many not higher
!" 'ne generality of the canal embankments we
b passed The whole view was particularly SOL
y w. Inc majestic stream of the Euphrates wan
'"s n solitude, like pilgrim monarch through