New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-02-02
Correspondence Of the Boston Travesr.l
Supposed Discovery Of the Tower OF
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BEIRUT, Dec. s, 1856-It is nearly two years since
informed your readers Of the grand and Instructive
Rlace, the French consul in Mosut Following up the
researches Of Mr. Bota and Mr.. Layard he brought to
light monuments of that long entombed city, which
equally amazed and delighted the world A man of
genius and enthusiasm, he was encouraged by his sue
cesse5 to extend his researches which he now closes
with an achievement which, if his opinions shall be
verified, will add imperishable lustre to hts name
Ihe Tower Ct Babel was supposed 70 exist only
Biblical souvenr-a thing OF memory and not Of sub.
stance. And, indeed, to many who contemplated it
0ny IN its audaeity and folly, it seemed myth or
ancy only Oriental imaginativeness superstition.
cept the great plain Of Shnar and no debris or ruins
remained Us the proof Of its veritable reality
How surprising, then, its discovery if discovery it
shall prove-that Titanic structure whose base was
iad IN the earth yet soaked with the waters of the
food, and whose summit was designed to pierce the
very heavens! And why not discovered? Nineyeh
has yielded up ts secrets after burial Of many cen
lures. Babylon, once the glory Of the Ghaldean's
excellenoy, has opened her gates again if not to her
Persian besiegers at least to the living generation,
OF all races, and, in her cylinder-books offers her
history to the worlds inspection. What remained
for discovery in the wreck and ruin Of the old world
but Babel that mighty tower, which was designed to
piercet to the skies and defy d second deuge! If it
seems too much for belief what should be thought in-
credible, when Nineveh and Babylon are brought back
70 the land Of the living by sort Of and
their monuments Of art are travelling through the
nations to amaze and delight mankind?
Beside there is providence to be traced in these
discoveries They serve not only to arouse, but to in
struct they not only crafty the curiosity but estab
Ish beyond all doubt and controversy the yeracity
ard inspiration Of the sacred records The light OF
pure Christianity begins to beam upon the early seats
Of the human race IT is meet that 1t should be met
by the light of the remotest antiquity. *
The substance Of the Information which has just
been circulated relating to the discovery Of the Tower
of Babel /. will give In Q few words, expecting
to receive fuller details, at the same time re-
marking that the French consul-general at Beirut,
Mr.. Lesseps, has received various curious articles
which were found ID the tower which 4 hope soon
+ to see and describe think my hand, il not my
heart viii fairly tremble If once it takes hold Of the
shovels, the trowes and the hods used by those old
nations and builders
The village Of Arbela so famous in history for the
decisive battle fought near It by Darius and Alexan
der, is only few days journey from Mosul, to
which NJ. Place, wearied with the monotonous won
ders of Nineyeh, set off with his accustomed enthu-
siasm in search of new discoveries in region cele-
brated in classical history On the way an incident
occurred, which proves to what degree the state
nents Of history respecting the locality are the sim
pie truth. The escort Of N. Place dismouted when
they reached the field of Arbela following the exam
pie of the consul, Who wished to study the battle
field and this be was obliged to do standing a
Turkish etiquette permits no one to remain seated !,
his saddle Soon, however, he mounted again, il
order toscor the plain. and the escort did the same
except q single Turk of enormous proportions, VIII!
lOuUWeu Oh 1901, pullng anu Datneu IN SWehu, M
Place, plying him for his sad plight, asked him
he did this because he preferred walking to riding
By nomeans," replied the Turk +" but am una
bic to remount my horse, because need the help o.
stone in order to regain my stinp, and who can fin
single stone in all the plain Of Ginganella ~
Now it is well known that Darius employed 800 0o
men for many daysin leyeng this plain, and in break
ing whatever would nterpose obstacle to his cav
airy and charots OF war. In the centre of the oil
battlefield of Arbela rises hill of colossal dimensions
whose object the party vanly eonjectuied, thinkn,
1t might be tomb or triumphal monument, o
more likely both. Unfortunately they had neithe
time to examine it, nor the appliances necessary 70
exploring it. s-6
Passing on, NJ. Place and his party at length dis
covered what they believed to he nothing less than thu
. yertable remains OF the Tower of Babel-the wonder
OF wonders and the grandest spectacle which the
OF men can contemplate in this age Of the world Th
proud tower, which was built in defiance of Heaven
and aimed to pierce the very skies, has lost in the
course Of ages, its Cloudreaching elevation Six Of
its eight stories have fallen and crumbled into dust
but the two which remain SO high that they may
De seen for NIFTY or sixty miles around. The base o.
ne tower y triangular and each side about six hun
dred feet long The tower is made of bricks of the
Rurest clay, and Of white color, which is littl,
shaded with a yellow tint.
Under clear sun, and as awhoe, this ancient mon
9ment or human skill and daring presents fine blend
ing o. coors which sets the painters pallet at defiance
before being baked the bricks had been covered Will
characters traced with the accuracy of the hand of
writing master. Near the top Of the letters the
straight strokes were adorned with tiOurishes resen
Ding the heads of nale. All was neat regular anl
severe and indeed those who saw these specimens 81
Tncient cagraphy affirm that The fathers OF tile hui
man race wrote better hand than their children,
Another curious fact arrested the attention Of tht
exploring party. The sacred record runs thus; AND
i came to pass as they jonrneyed rem the East Tia
they found plain in the valley of Shinar and tbe,
dwelt there. And they said one to Another rs g
iet us make brick, and burn them thoroughly = ant
tney mad brick for stone, Tor instead of stone) AM
slime had they for mortar.n Modern sceptics ma
ask-where could these builders obtain all this btu
men LOT vast quantity must have been demande
" meet the wants OF 50 many trowels. 1t is sngula
coineidence that NJ. Place discovered fountain at
small distance from the tower whose waters flow i
such abundance as almost to form river.
The stream would force its way into river in til
vicinity and did not the people hasten to stop it h
setting the htunlinous flood on fire when they trai
guilty wait till the fire is extingushed for the wan
OF aliment. Thus the old fountain still pours ont If
exhanstible quantities of bitumen, or Slime whic
supplied these old builders in their vast enernris,
Btmen also adds to the durability of bricks as NE
as firmly consoidates them in masonry. Could am,
thing be added to The marvel of the condolences
Thus travels and expeditions in Assyria becon
blblieaieorofafes and new proofs are never wantin
of old truths. .- 4s5ss.I
Among the interesting discoveries Of Ar p,ac