Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-06-27
THE RUINS OF NINEvEH.

A correspondent Of a London paper
furnishes the subjoined extract from the
letter Of Mr. STEWART ERsKISE ROLAND,
who is now at Nimroud with Captain
LAYARD, assisting him in his endeavors to
bring to light the hidden antiquarian
treasures of Nine.eh:
"The first two or three days at Mossul
l spent in examining the excavations at
Koyuniik, when, fresh slabs are being ev-
cry day brought TO light. Two new
colossal bulls and two colossal figures
were discovered while was there, at the
entrance Of the city gates and the pave
ments at the gateway, marked with ruts
BY chariot wheels, was also uncovered
l left my wife under Mrs Rassam's care,
and accompanied Layard days journey
to the villages Of Baarshekah, and Bamya-
neh, and to the Mound Of Korsabad. We
took grey hounds with US, and had days
hunting, catching seven antelopes. After
our return, Mr. Layard, Charlotte, and l,
and our servants, embarked on a raft, and
floated down the Tigris in seven hours
10 this little village Of Nimroua, close to
the large mound, which was the first ex-
cavaied, sending our baggage and horses
by land. We have since been residing in
his house here it is, in fact, little more
than mud hut !; but he has put in glass
windows, table, and some sofas, and
made it as comfortable as circumstances
will admit.
"Layard has placed party ofthe work
men under my control, and allows me te
dig where please. am sinking wells
in all directions, and am not without hopes
of discovering subterranean chambers
which am convinced must exist. In one
place, considerably below the level of any
of The hitherto discovered monuments, {
brick arch between two walls of brick has
been uncovered; it is puzzle to us all
Another great discovery is an immense
stone wall Of most solid masonry inside the
brick pyramid. The workmen are labor.
ing 10 force an entrance into it but their
progress is necessarily very slow, not
exceeding foot or two in day. But the
greatest discovery yet made since the
earth was first turned remains TO be told
l will give it TO you in due order. Yot
must recollect that commenced my letter
OH Christmas day, and am continuing it a
intervals.
"January 3, l95O.-On the 2Sth o
December Layard and l, with our attend
| ants and two or three Arab Sheikhs
.,,r,.,l off to pay visit 10 the ''rai," OF
the other SIDE Of tie "Zab." We wer'
the frs, Euro opeans who had ever % yls'te'
that country. Three no:rs' ga"op'"s
from Nimroud brought us to the oa:Ss O.
the stream, which is as rapid and broad al
the Tigris, and nearly as deep. but here
being divided into four branches, is forda
bic. With some difficulty we swan ou'
horses across it, getting Of course very
wet in the operation. Our visit here ha'
a threefold object-frst, to explore the
mound Of Abou Sheeta, which appears t.
contain buried city secondly, to make
friends between two rival chiefs OF ths
| Tai, and, thirdly, to promote reconc'ila
ton between them and their lmp'acabl'
enemies the Jibours, which will much ia
cilitate Layard's future operation.
"Our first visit was to the camp Of thu
| Hawar, who is considered BY all th'
Arabs, even by those Of the great African
desert, to be the highest born and mobiles
among them. He is probably the man o o
most ancien: descent in the world reck
oning his genealogy far above the time o
Abraham. He is supported in preten
sions to the chieftainship by the noblest O
the tribe, while his rival, Feras, is sup
ported by the Turks and the greater mum
Der of the Tai. His brother, the hand
soonest man l have ever seen, came out
meet US with one hundred the other day
They galloped ,nadly about the plan
brandishing their long spears, shouting
their war-cry, and escorted Us IN grea
state to the camp Of the Sheikh, where n
stood to receive US. never saw so nobl
or dignifed figure he is emlnentl
handsome, though advanced in years an
.nfferinp from ill-kealth. In stature h
j. gigantic, six feet four or five at least