Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-15

THE RUINS OF NINEVEH


THE RUINS OF NINEvEH.
A correspondent of London paper furnishes the
subjoned extracts from the letter of Mr.. Stewart Els
kline Roland who is at Nmroud with Captain
Layard assisting him in his endeavors to bring light
the hidden antiquarian treasures of Nineveh:
''The first two or three days at Mossu spent in
aiming the excavations at koynnjk, where fresh slabs
are being every day brought to light. Two coos
sal bulls and two colossal figures discovered while
was there, at the entrance OF the city gates and the
pavement at the gateway marked with ruts by chariot
Wheels was also uncovered. left my wife under Mrs
Rassams care and accompanied Layard days jour
ney to the villages Of Baarshekah and Bamyaneh, and
with us, and had days hunting, catching ante
lopes After return, Mr.. Layard, Charlotte, and l.
and our servants, embarked on raft and oated down
the Tigrs in hours to this little village OF MINI
roud, close to the large mound, which the first
cavated, sending baggage and horses by land We
have since heen 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
Portable circumstances will admit.
"Layard has placed party of worknen under my
control and allowed me to dig where | please | am
sinking wells 10 all directions and am not without hopes
of discovering subteranean chambers, which l am
convinced must exist. In place, considerably be-
low the level of any of the hitherto discovered monu-
ments, BRICK arch between two walls Of brick has
been discovered it is a puzzle to us all. Another
great discovery is immense stone wall OF most solid
masonry ins de the brick pyramid The workmen are
laborng TO force entrance into it, but their progress
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 will give
it you in due order You must recoect that l COM
menced my letter on Christmas day, and am contnu-
ing it at intervals.
"January 3, ls5o-On the 2sth of December Layard
and |, with our attendants and two or three Arab
Sheikhs, started pay visit to the Tai on the other
side of the Fab We were the first Europeans who
had ever visited that country. Three hours gallopng
from Nimroud brought us to the banks OF the stream
WI is s IiprlS nearly ~
Deep but here being divided four branches is for
dabe. With difficulty our horses across
visit here has threetod obectrst, TO explore the
mound of Abou Sheeta, which appears to contain
built city; secondly, to make friends between two rival
CHI efs of the Tai; and, thirdly, promote reconca
ton between them and their mplacabe enemies the j.
bours, which will much facilitate Layard's future ope
rations
"Our first visit was to the camp of the Hawar, who
is considered by all the Arabs even by those of the
great African DESERT be the highest born and nobest
among them. He is probably the of most ancient
descent in the world reck onng his geneaogy far above
the time OF Abraham. he is supported in his preen-
sions to the craftsmanship by the nobest OF the tribe
while his rival Feras supported by the Turks and the
greater number of the Tai His BROTHER the handsomes
man have ever seen, came out to meet us with one
hundred horsemen, most OF whom had come to our vii
lage to plumber the other day They galoped madly
about the plain brandshng their long spears, shouting
their warcry and escorted in great state to the camp
of the Sheikh, where he stood to receive
saw noble or dignified figure he is eminently
handsome though advanced in years and suffering from
ihealth In stature he is gigantic, six feet four five
at least and erect as pine tree His tent was spa
cious one, load for three camels, with the womens
tents SIDE and that OF the horses the other,
all under the same covering Mats and cushions were
spread on the floor of the tent, which the Hawai-
Layard and sat, as did his brother his uncle and
others of the magnaes of the tribe, while the stood
in semicrcle at the door. noble hunting. hawk
stood his perchin the centre. We partook OF spced
coffee discussed the business which we came, and
dined in the tent a capital stew of mutton, pumpkins.
rice and sour milk. After we had partaken, the rest
OF the tribe made their repast certain number sitting
down together each man rising when he was satisfied,
and of master Of the ceremonies calling out the
name OF the man who was to succeed him. There was
no hustle indecorum. After dinner they all said
their prayers We had sent on our tents which, by the
way, got very wet crossing the river and pitched
them close to that OF the Shekh The next day the en-
campment changed its quarters. | have seldom seen
more picturesque sight. The Sheikh's tent struck
first and the long procession of laden cames horse
men, donkeys and cattle stretched as tar as the eye
thousand PERSONS with their cames horses and cattle
We paid our visit Feras, the rival Sheikh, taking
with us the brother of the Hawar. We were well re-
ceiyed though not with the same dgnitled courtesy
"While away the workmen had opened
trench by Layards direction, to show my wife GER
tain slab which he had buried in doing so they
cred three copper caldrons of immense SIZE and
huge dishes Of metal. Layard carefully removed the
earth from one caldron, which was PARTIAL filled with
it, and discovered an immense variety OF ivory orna-
ments an iron exe-head and innumerable other articles
which for the present must torbear to mention having
promised secrecy. Layard removed as many as he
could, and covered the rest with earth 1t is by far
the most important discovery that has yet been made.
He has placed them under my charge and given me the
direction OF the workmen, he is obliged to go to
Mossu to make preparations tor the removal OF the
finest colossal lions that have yet been discovered,
which will, trust, be on their way to England IN
month or two After that shall cross the Aab with
our TENTS encamp thered, pass our time alternately
in hunting and digging in the mound
"You can have no idea OF the difficulties Layard has
to contend with or the energy talent perseverance, and
shrewdness with which he surmounts them or the ex-
ouisite tact and good humor with which he manages
the different people he has to deal with In the first
Mace he has nothing but conjecture to guide him Ill his
researches it literally cropping in the dark and all
sorts OF buried treasures may lie within his reach, WINE,
from the very small amount OF funds placed at his DIS
posal he is unable to make any thing like proper
search and contents himself with sinking trenches al
most at hazard as it were.
"Jan. 6-Y esterday we removed more tnan thlrty
metal vases bowls and saucers most beautifully emoos
sed and engraved some shields and swords, OF which
the handles remain alone the IRON blades beng decom-
posed and small marble vase. The cups and bowls
and other ornaments are OF some unknown alloy OF
metals but they are all so encrusted with decomposed
and crystalized copper and fragile, that they cannot
be handled without great danger, and Mr.. Layard is
sending them home in the state IN which he iounu e
without attempting to remove the rust.
al spent eight hours yesterday scratching them o9l OF
the clay with my hands, the operation was 100 dell
cate to allow even knife 10 be used wy VIE was
employed the whole night in packing them' we may
now congratulate the British nation IN beng possessed