The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-02-07
Interesting from the East.

the supposed discovery of the ruins of the
| Tower of Babel VIC take from the Boston
Traveller. The Traveller says that the Off
cial position Of its correspondent, which
gives him unusual opportunities and means
Of information, is full guaranty of the cor
rcctness and reliability of all his statements:
BEIRUT, December 6, 1856.
1t is nearly two years since that l in
formed your readers of the grand and in
structive discoveries in ancient Ninevah,
made by Mr.. Place, the French Consul in
Mosul. Following up the researches of Mr.
Botta 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 successes to ex-
tend his researches, which he now closes
with an achievement, which, if his opinions
shall be verified, will add impershable lus-
tre to his name. The Tower of Babel was
supposed to exist only as Biblical souve-
MIRA thing of memory and not 0f1Rb-
stance. And, indeed, to many who ookatem-
plated it only in its audacity and folly, it
seemed a myth or fancy only of Oriental
imaglnativeness or superstition. Besides,
no locality was assigned to the structure, ,ex-
cept the great plain Of Shinar, and no debri
or ruins remained as the prorf of its verita-
BILE reality.
How surprising then, its discovery, if dis
covery it shall prove-that Titanic structure
whose base was laid in the earth yet soaked
with the waters of the flood, apd whose sum
nit was designated to pierce the very hea-
vens! And why not discovereds Ninevah
has yielded up its secrets after a burial of
long centuries. Babylon, once 1.-THE glory OF
tie Chaldean's excclency, has opened her
gates again, if not TO her Persian beseigers,
at least to the living generation, of all races,
and IN her cyliudcr books offers her history
10 the worlds inspection. What remained
tor discovery in the wreck and ruin Of the
Old world, but Babel, that mighty tower,
which was designed TO pierce the skies and
DEFY second deluge, If il seems too much
for belief, what should be thought incredible,
when Ninevah and Babylon are brough;
back to the land Of the living by a sort of
resurrection, and their monuments of art
art travelling through the nations TO amaze
AMI delight mankind?
Besides there j. a Providence TO DC traced
in these discoveries. They serve not only
to arouse but to instruct; they not only graf
i:y the curiosity, but establish beyond all
doubt and controversy the vcracity and in
sPiration Of the Sacred Records The light
o! pure Christianity begins to beam upon
the carly seats of the human race;.i, is
meet that it should be met by the light of
the rcmo'cst antiquity.
Tie substance of the information which (
has uSt been circulated relating to the dis I
covery of the Tower of Babel, | viii give in .
lew words, expecting soon to receive fur 1
ther details, at the same time remark;ng
that the French Consul General Of Beirut 4
SIR. Lesseps, has received various curious
articles which were found in the tower
which hope soon to see and describe. |
think my hand, if not my heart, will fairly
tremble, if once it takes hold Of the shoye!s, /
the uowclS, and the hods used by old ma
sons aud builders
The village Of Arbcla, so famous in his 4
tory FOR the decisive battle fought near it by .
Darius and Alexander, is OILY a few-days .
Journey from Mosul, to which Mr.. Place, 4
wear!ed with the monotonous wonders Of I
N.ncvah, set of with his accustomed enthu- /
siasIn in search of new discoveries, in a re-
gion celebrated in classical history. On .
lis way an incident occurred, which proves .
to what degree the statements Of history .
respecting the locality are the simple truth.
The escort Of Mr. Place dismoun,ed when .
they reached the field of Arbcla, following
the example of the Consul who wished TO .
stuiy the battlefield; and this he was
obliged to DO s,aHdiRg as Turkish etiquette
permits no one 10 remain seated in his sad
die Soon, however, he mounted again, in
order to scour the plain, and the escort did
the same, except single Turk OF enormous
proportions, who followed on foot, putting
and bathed in sweat. Mr.. Place plying
him for his sad plight asked him If he did
this because he preferred walking 20 riding
by 10 means" replied the Turk; but
| am unable to remount my horse, because
need the help of Stone in order to regain
my stirrup, and who can find single stone
in all the plain of q ngane.a 2"
Now, it is well known that Darius en-
ployed 500, 900 men for many days in level
ing this plain and in breaking whatever
would interpose an obstacle to his cavalry
and chariots Of war. In the centre Of the
old battle field Of Arbela rises bill of CO.
'ossal dimensions, whose object the party
vainly conjectured, thinking it might be
omb, or triumphal monument, or more
likely both. Unfortunately they had no
time TO examine it, nor the appliances ne
cesssry for exploring it. :
Passing on, Mr.. Place and his party at
ength discovered what they believed to be
nothing else than the veritable remains of
he T. tcer cf Babel, the wonder Of won
icrs, and the grandest spectacle which the
yes Of men can contemplate in this age OF
he world. This proud tower, which was
quilt n defiance of Heaven, and aimed 10
pierce the very skies, has lost in the course
# ages, its cloud-reacLing elevation. SIX
If its eight stories have fallen and crumbled
nto dust, but the two which remain are so
high that they may be seen for fifty or sixty
niles around. The base Of the tower is
and each side about six hun
c..t In Of =
bricks Of the purest clay and of white {
olor, which is little shaded with yellow t
int. Under clear sun, and as a whole, S
his ancient monument of human skill and t
laring presents a fine blending Of co!ors
which sets the painters pallet at defiance
Before being baked the bricks had been COW a
;red with characters traced with the accu- t
acy of the hand of a writing master. Near '
he top Of the letters the straight strokes '
we're adorned with tlourishes resembling the {
leads of nails. All was neat, regular and I
cvere and indeed those who saw these v
pecimens Of ancient caligrapha affirm that '
he fathers OF the human race wrote better q
.and than their children. /
Another curious fact arrested the atten- +
ion OF the exploring party. The sacred !
ecord runs thus: ''And it came to pass as :!
hey journeyed from the East that they C
ound plain in the valley Of Shinar, and il
hey dwelt there. And they said one to an S
ther-Go to, let US make brick, and burn a
hem thoroughly; and they had br ick for O
tone, (or instead Of stOne) and slime had Il
hey for mortar" Modern sceptics may il
SIX: Where could these builders Obtain all
his bitumen? for a vast ouantity must have 4
een demanded to meet the wants OF SO a
many trowels. 1t is singular oinfidence v
hat Mr.. Pace discovered fountai in at a
mall distance from the tower, whose waters o
ow in such abundance as almost to form a a
iver. The stream would force its way into S
river in the vicinity, did not the people