Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-03-28
Ruins Of fNineveh.

In March last, Messrs. Perkins and Stock
ing, oil the American Nestorian Mission.
with a number of their native friends from
OroornialI, Mar YOIlamnan amoug them. Wis.
tied Mosul. Mr. Perklnss Journal of the ex.
curslon INTO this most interesting region is
published in the Missionary Herald for Feb
ruarv. We tuke from it the following ex-
tract, descriptive vi the ruins of ancient Nine-
veh:
On the 16'h OF March, lie SAYS, I'VE
crossed the 'rigris and visited the runs sun.
posed 10 mark the site oi Nlneveh. These
ruins are just opposite Mosul, about three.
fouIths ot mile distant from the river, the
intervening space being low alluvial, bur lit
tie higher than the stream. This alluvial
space may probably have been fur,ned since
The period OF N,aeveI,, and the Tigris NAV
have passed very near the ancient city, as il
now washes the walls Of the modern MosuI.
The ruins consist Of ridges. like old walls,
inclosng an area perhaps four miles long
and about two miles broad. The inclosed
area is mostly II level cultivated space. On
the western bound OF this area, and about in
The middle. lon2iudinaIIy, is a regularly
shaped mound ofqnadrangula form, pei hnp>
fifty feet high, and rs many rods square, and
nearly level on the top This mound hns
"'''. sS EHihis dppeuIuuCc, tAttiTatlF
suggesting the idea of castle and inclosed
palaces. From the top Of this mound exca-
vatlons ere now prosecuted Tor ancient re-
mains, and with iuost interesting re,lIrs.-
Only few men are at present emplu, ed
there by Mr.. aud Mrs. Rass,n; MIR. Layard.
who is devoted 10 this enterprise, being nb.
sent on visit 10 England. We examined
those excavations with astonishment and rare
entertainment. Descending by an earthly
staircase formed by the excavuiors some 20
or 30 feet, and then passing horizontally
under ground. we were suddenly usliered
INTO ancient mnrbIe palaces, the walls al
beautifully scuIptured. We were filled with
ineypressible wonder and delight, by what
our eyes 50 unexpectedly beIeld. Rod after
rod in the same great halls we passed along
by slabs OF marble. nicely fitted together,
each slab about six feet high and eight feet
long aud seven or eight inches thck-nlI ex-
quisitely carved with spirited representa-
tions--scenes oi the chase battle scenes
warriors armed with spenrs, bows and mr.
rows, sl'nss and swords and the victors often
holding two decapitaled heads in one hand
one by the beard and the oIlier by the tu.t
on the skull. aud brandislrng weapon in
The other hand. There were forts besieged.
There were trains of camels, horses and
mules. In many cases there were rivers
flowing near the base of the halls, beneath
the actors, the streams being filled with
sporting fish. There were also rural scenes
peasants on the road carving sacks of pro-
visions 90 their backs. &c. The palm tree
richly clothed with foliage, was also a com
mon object represented
| Further researches BY Layard. The Lon-
| lou iiua,un gives Ihr tnlioNiny uccoiIni
of the more recent researches of Mr.. Layard
| Letters from Nimrod of Nov. 25th, inform
us of the progress of DR. Layard's researches
A wall OF admirably uHited large square
blocks of lines one, without cement, has
been discovered 10 the pyramid at Nimroud,
hut as vet it has impossible To ascertain what
is behind il. Ii may lie, probably. cham
ber or tomb, or II may be only one side uI
a square mass. supporting th. pyramid ol
unhaked bricks. What if it should turn out
to he the true busta Nini2 In The entrance
of n gateway 10 The quadrangle opposite
Alosui, DR.. Iayard has reached pur oi
enorn Gus winged figures, which appear to
be entire, but have been cracked and Injured
by fire. plan of this entrance would lie
interesting, as illustrative Of the architecture
of the city. At kouyuniik pair OF gigantic
bulls, back 10 back, separated by an enor-
nous figure strangling lion, like that a,
Paris, but still larger, have been discovered,
hul Iheupper paris Of all have been de stroyed.
On the bulls are interesting Inscriptions
We are glad TO hear that the colossal lions
nt Nimroud were nearly ready for removal.
II was expected that they would be on the
road to England emily in December. Dr..
Dayard has a party OF men excavaling at
b mshickliah and in a mound near Khorsa
| baI