The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-19
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Greensborough IN c Patriot
Nlncvsh and lls Remains.

pied with reviews of Mr. Layards account OF ms discov
rived on The banks of The Tgris October ls45 Leav
ing the vast plain of level debris broken by huge mounds
which spreads from me s sank called by Se @
Nineyeb Mr. Layards interest was powerfully directed
to another quanerto Nimroud at ABOUT five hours dis
lance by the winding of the river The following ex
tract from his book is given IN one OF the reviews:
"As descended the Tigris raft, again the
ruins of Nmroud. and had better opportunity of ex
aiming them, 1t was evening as we approached the
spot The spring rains had clothed the mound with the
richest verdure, and the fertile meadows which stretched
around it were covered with flowers of every hue.
Amidst this uxuriant vegetation partly concealed
few fragments OF bricks, pottery and alabaster upon
which mig be traced the well defined wedges of cunei
of the ruin, might have been conounded with nau
raj emnence long line OF consecutive narrow mounds
still retaining the appearance OF walls or ramParts stretch
flowed distance from them its waters, swollen by
the melting of the the Armenian hills, were bro
ken into thousand oamlng whlrpOos by artificial bar
rier built the On the eastern bank the soil
had been washed away by the current but solid mass
of masonry still withstood its impetuosity The Arab
eacuations approached this formidable cataract,
which we were carried with some violence. Once
safely through the danger. my companion explained to
that this unusual change in the quiet face Of the river
was caused by great dam which had been built by MIN
rod and that in the autumn before the winter rains the
huge stones OF which it was constructed. squared, and
united by clamps OF iron, frequently visible above
the surface of the stream 1t in fact of those
MONUMENTS OF great people to be found in all the rivers
constant supply OF water to the lnnumerable canals
spreading like network the surrounding country,
and which, i'll the days of Alexander, looked
upon as the works OF an ancient nation. No wonder
that the traditions OF the present inhabitants of the land
should assign them TO one OF the founders OF the human
race! The Arab was telling me OF the cOnnexOn be-
tween the dam and the city built by Arthur, the euten-
ant OF Nlmrod the vast ruins OF which were now before
us-of its purpose as a causeway for the mighty hunter
to 10 the opposite palace represented by the
mound OF Hammum Ali, and OF the histories and fate OF
the kings OF primitive race still the fa~o,e theme OF
Inha Of he of last
glow of twilight faded away, and fell asleep
glided onward to Bagdad"-Pp. 10
1t Is the conclusion of Mr. Layard that these mounds
if not parts of vast city, the successive local.
ties occupied comprehended by Nineveh under its
successive dynasties. The residence Of the King
probably at the same time the temple. Each great
eregn according to the imperial caprice OF those barbarc
ages. was proud of being the founder OF his capital
IN M up TINS rus0 OF
the kings and gods OF Assyra with their dependencies
which was loosely termed Nineveh, and was in fact
as i was built and patronised by The actual sovereign,
was perhaps the Nineueh of its day.
Mr. Layard ascerained the general mode Of building
adopted by the ancient Assyrians in the valley of the
Tgris the discovery of which facilitated his further
operations THE low level plains which they built
Their cities compelled them to give artificial elevation,
both for strength and security, that they might be
afar Oh, and command the adjacent region great pave
men usually OF unburnt brick, was first laid down.
commensurate with the design, on mass OF brick work
thirty or forty feet high. On this pavement rose the
palace temple with all lis halls chambers. The
to this foundation PLATFORM Ito penetrate deeper was vain
and lost labor0 and, having reached its level to work
onwards in any direction along its surface Ill the walls
gates or openings which led into other galleries cham
bers The gates Of the more important chambers were
Ions. or Of Composite @ COLOSSAL wa1e1s Of
these vast halls The gates or doorsf there gates
OF doors-beng Of some less durable material had en-
damental principle of Assyrian architecture was gained
only by observation and experience"
H., NJ
Layard's book descriptive OF scene which ensued on
the exhumation OF ancient work OF art by his Arab
laborers:
"Oa the morning rode to the encampmcnt of Shekh
Abdurrahman, and was returning to the mound. when
Jaw two Arabs Of his tribe urging their the top
Of their speed On approaching me they stepped. Has
gers for they have found Nmrod himself WaIIah, il
is wonderful, but il is true we have seen him with our
eyes. There is god but God and both joining in this
pious exclamation, they gaoped off, without further
wordr in the direction Of their tents.
"On reaching the ruins | descended into the new
trench, and found the wokmen, who had already seen
me as approached standing near heap of baskets and
cloaks Whilst Awad advanced and asked for present
celebrate the OCCASION the Arabs withdrew the screen
they had hastily constructed, and disclosed enormous
human head scupured in full out OF the aabaser Of the
country They had uncovered the upper part of figure,
the remainder of which still buried in the earth.
saw al once that the head must belong to winged lion
or bull similar TO those of Khorsabad and PeIsepolis
1t was in admirable preservation. The expression was
calm, yet majestic and the outline OF the features showed
freedom and knowledge Of art scarcely TO be locke
Tor in the works OF TemOte period. The cap had
three horns, and, unlike that OF the human headed bulls
hitherto found in Assyria, was rounded and without or
nalnent at the top.
Il not surprised that the Arabs had been amazed
and terrified at this apparon 1t required no stretch oil
imagination to conure up the most strange fances This
gigantic head banched with age, thus rising from the
bowels of the earth, might well have belonged TO one
those fearful beings which pictured in the traditions
of the country appearing to morals, slowly ascending
from the regions below One OF the workmen, catch
ing the first glimpse OF the monster had thrown down
his basket and off towards Mosul fast his legs
could carry him learnt this with regret az antic
pated the consequences
"Whst was experimenting the removal OF the earth
which still chung to the sculpture and giving directions
for the continuation OF the work. noise of horsemen
was heard, and presently ADD urrahman, followed by
hall his tribe, appeared the edge OF the trench AS
the two Arabs had reached the tents, and pub
shed the wonders they had seen every mounted his
mare and rode to the mound to satisfy himself Of the
truth of these uncomfortable reports When they bebeld
the head they all cried together, There is god but
before the sheikh could be prevailed upon to descend
into the pit, and convince himself that the image he
was of stone. This is not the werk of mems hands,
exclaimed he, but of those infde giants of whom the
Prophet, peace be with him has said that they were
higher than the taest date tree this of the idols
which Noah peace be with him cursed before the flood
In this opinion, the result of careful examination all
Inc bystanders concurred." PIP. 65, g.
Inc London Times in the conclusion of an article on
MI Layads book remarks. "hat in these days, when
e Imminent OF prophecy is engaging much attention.
we but consider that the work of Mr. Eayard will be
Iond 20 afford many extraordinary proofs OF the truth of
Dpncai history, and of the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel
against the kings of Assyra and of the destruction of
Uneven IN particular Even the colors and decoratons