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

the women's tents on one side, and that Of
the horses on the other, all under the
same covering. Mats and cushions were
spread on the floor Of the tent, on which
the Hawar, Layard, and sat, as did his
brother, his uncle, and others of the mag.
mates Of the tribe, while the rest stood in
semicircle at the door. A noble hunt
ing hawk stood on his perch in the centre.
We partook Of spiced coffee, discussed the
business OH which we came, and dined in
the tent on capital stew Of mutton,
pumpkins, rice, and sour milk. After we
had partaken, the rest Of the tribe made
their repast, a certain number sitting
down together, each man rising when he
was satisfied and a sort of master Of the
ceremonies calling out the name Of the
man who was to succeed him. There
was no hustle or indecorum. After din
ner they all said their prayers. We had
sent on our tents, which, by the way, got
very wet crossing the river, and we pitch
ed them close to that Of the Sheikh. The
next day the encampment changed its
quarters. l have seldom seen a more
picturesque sight. The Sheikh's tent
was struck first, and the long procession
of laden camels, horsemen, donkeys, and
cattle stretched as far as the eye could
reach. l calculated that there were about
two thousand persons, with their camels,
horses, and cattle. We paid our visit to
Feras, the rival Sheikh, taking with us
the brother Of the Hawar. We were well
received, though not with the same digni.
fled courtesy.
"While we were away the workmer
had opened trench, by Layard's direc.
tions, to show my wife certain slat
which he had buried in doing SO they
uncovered three copper caldrons Of i'm.
mense size, and some huge dishes Of met.
al. Layard carefully removed the earth
::rom one caldron, which was partially
filled with it, and discovered an immense
variety Of ivory ornaments, an iron axe
head, and innumerable other articles:
which for the present l must forbear to
mention, having promised secrecy. La
yard removed as many as he could, and
covered the rest with earth. 1t is by far
the most important discovery that has yc,
! been made. He has placed them under
my charge, and given me the direction OF
the workmen, as he is obliged 10 go to
Mossul to make preparations for the re-
moval of the two finest colossal lions that
have yet been discovered, which will, !
trust, be on their way to England in a
month or two. After that we shall cross
| tho Zab with tents, cneamp there,
and pass our time alternate in hunting and
digging in the mound.
| "You can have no idea Of the difficulty
Layard has 10 contend with, or the ener-
gy, talent, perseverance, and shrewdness
| with which he surmounts them, or the ex-
! quisite tact and good humor with which
he manages the different people he has to
deal with. In the first place he has moth
! ing but conjecture to guide him in his re-
searches; it is literally cropping in the
dark, and all sorts of buried treasures
NAV lie within his reach, while, from the
very small amount Of funds placed at his
dis posal, he is unable to make any thing
like proper search, and contents himse sel
with sinking trenches almost at hazard as
it were.
/ "Jan. 6.--Yesterday we removed more
than thirty metal vases, bowls, and sau'
GERS, most beautifully embossed and en-
graved, some shields and swords, Of which
the handles remain alone, the iron blade!
being decomposed, and a small marble
vase. The cups and bowls and o,heI
ornaments are Of some unknown alloy o
metals, but they are all so encrusted will
decomposed and crystalized copper, ant
SO fragile, that they cannot be handled
without great danger, and Mr. Layard i
sending them home in the state in which
he found them, without attempting to re-
move the rust.
81 spent eight hours yesterday scratch
ing them out of the clay with my hands
as the operation was too delicate to allow
even knife to be used. My wife wa
employed the whole night in packir!
them. We may now congratulate tn
British nation in being possessed OF an en-
tirely unique collection, the value o
which is inestimable. The ornament
and sculptures on the vases denote yer,
advanced stage of civilization. Not tn
least curious of the discoveries are sever
al hundred mother.o' pearl studs, in form
exactly resembling our shirt buttons" "
The London Times, Of later date thai
the number which contained the abov,
letter says:
! "Very late and highly satisfactory ac
counts have within these few days bee1
received from Mr. Layarj, in .Assyria
giving intelligence Of new and importan
discoveries in the Nimroud mound. HI
has made fresh and extensive excavation
in parts Of it not yet explored, and the re
suit has been the finding of nothing les
than the throne upon which the monarch
reigning abou, three thousand years ago
sat in his splendid palace. ltis composed
Of metal and ivory, the metal being richl.
wrought, and the ivory beautifully carved
1t does not appear in what part OF the ed
ifice this discovery has been made but
seems that the throne was separated iron
the state apartments by means Of larg
curtain the rings by which it was draw
and undrawn having been preserved. A
the date of these advices the beginnin
Of last month Mr. Layard was pursnin
his researches with renewed ardor i
consequence Of the astonishing success
that has hitherto attended his exertion.-
| - ls~h