The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-05-05

day IN the hrst chapter OF GeneSiS IS an
indefinite; period of time: and makes out
a very strong case in favor of the world
being perhaps million years of age, ac-
cording to the Mosaic account Of creation.
Scientific Ameriean.
Archaeological Discoveries in the sidon.
A correspondent of the journal Of
Commerce, writes an interesting letter
from Beirut in Syria, descriptive of
some important archaeological discoveries
which have recently been made in the
ancient city of Siden and it is believed
that further Investigations viii reveal TO
the eyes of the searchers, monuments.
and other relics. of the past which, al
though perhaps not equal In magnifcence
to those of Nineyah, viii possess greater
value in the history of letters and the
disposal of certain questions of arch@-
ology. Sidon is thirty miles south from
Beirut, and containsa population of about
ten thousand persons. In the winter of
1854, some Mussulmen who were dig
ging for treasures in the old grave yards
of the city, uncovered three copper pots,
each containing eight, hundred pieces of
gold. The whole value of the treasure
was about SIC, 900. After this discovery,
excavations were commenced upon a
large scale, and as it has turned out, with
more important results. The correspon-
dent of the Journal Of Commerce says
"On the 10Th of January last, some
men were digging for more hid treasure
in an ancient cemetery on the plain of ST.
don, called Augborat Tabfooaa, when at
the depth of about twelve feet below the
surface, and near the walls of an ancient
edifice, they uncovered a sarcophagus,
upon the lid of which there is a long
Phenician inscription. The lid is of a
blue, black marble, intensely hard, and
taking very fine polish. The lid is
about eight feet long, by four feet wide.
The upper end wrought into the figure
of female head and shoulders, of almost
a giant size. The features are Egyptian,
with large, full, almond shaped eyes, the
nose flattened, and remarkably thick, and
somewhat after the negro mould. The
whole countenanee is smiling, agreeable,
and expressive, beyond anything have
ever seen in the disinterred monuments
of Egypt or Ninevah The head dress
resembles that which appears in Egyp-
tian figures, while on each shoulder there
is the head of some bird-a dove or
pigeon-and the bosom is covered by
what appears to be sort of cape, with
deep fringe, as of lace.
''On the lid below the figure head, is
the inscription, consisting of twenty two
long lines, closely written. The letters
are in perfect preservation, and can be
read with the utmost ease and accuracy,
and the whole form by far the longest
and most perfect inscription yet discov-
cred in this most ancient language and
character. 1t appears to be mainly a
genealogical history of the person buried
in the sarcophagus, who, it appears, was
a King of 7Sidon. The names of Baal
and Ashtoreth, the well known gods of
the Sidonians, occur repeatedly in these
inscriptions. Some of the words are He
brew, as melek, king; while the forms of
some letters are so much like those of the
i. ancient Greek as at once to indicate the
relationship. Letters were invented by
the Phenicians. Here we seem to see
them dropping from their hands in the
first casting. | have copy of the IN
scription before me, with the figure head
taken with great accuracy BY the pen of a
young Arab. which could hardly be ex-
eeeded by photography or lithography.
| wish | could forward it to you to be
used in your paper. 1t was sent to me
BY friend in Sidon, and is the more
valuable from the fact that, at present ad-
ditional copies cannot be taken"
| The inscription was not perfectly de-
ciphered at last accounts. The Rev. Mr.
Thompson, an American Missionary at
Siden, and the Rev. DR.. Smith, of Beirut,
had, however, translated large part OF
lit with little difficulty, and expected soon
to complete their work. In the meantime
a controversy had arisen between the En-
elish and French Consuls at Beirut re-
specting the ownership of the sarcopha-
gus. One had made contract with the
owner of the land, by which he was en-
titled to whatever he should discover in
it; and the workmen Of the other had
discovered the relic within the claim of
the first. Both were extremely anxious
to obtain it at any cost, with the intention
of sending it to London or Paris ]; and for
the purpose of preventing any serious
trouble, the Turkish Governor of Sidon
had closed upthc ground and surrounded
it by guard of soldiers, while the ques-
ton of ownership was being decided by
the Courts.