Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-05


mits no one to remain seatedin his saddle
Soon, however, he mounted again, in order
to scour the plain, and the escort did the
same, except single Turk of enormous pro.
portions, 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 to riding.
"By no 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 Gingarnella?" ..e
Now it is we'll known that Darius employ.
ed three hundred thousand men for many
days in levelling 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 hill
of colossal dimensions, whose object the par
ty vainly conjectured, thinking it might be
tomb, or triumphal monument, or more
likely both. Unfortunately they had not
time to examine it, nor the appliances neces.
sary for exploring it.
Passing on, Mr.. Plane and his party at
length discovered what they believed to be
nothing less than the veritable remains Of
the Tower of Babel-the wonder of wonders,
and the grandest spectacle which the eyes of
men can contemplate in this age of the world.
The proud tower, which was built in def
ance of Heaven, and aimed to pierce the very
skies, has lost, in the course of ages, its cloud
reaching elevation. Six of its eight stories
have fallen and crumbled into dust; but the
two which remain are so high that they may
be seen for fifty or sixty miles round. The
base of the tower is quadrangular, and each
side about six hundred feet long. The tow
er is made of bricks of the purest clay and
of white color, which is little shaded with
a yellow tint. Under clear sun, and as a
whole, this ancient monument of human skill
and daring presents fine blending Of colors
which sets the painters pallet at defiance.
Before being baked, the brick had been coy-
cred with characters traced with the accu-
racy of the hand of writing master. Near
the top of the letters the straight strokes
were adorned with Aourishes resembling the
heads of nails. All was neat, regular and
severe; and indeed those who saw those spe-
cimens of ancient calligraphy affirm that the
fathers of the human race wrote a better hand
than their children.
Another curious fact arrested the atten.
ton Of the exploring party. The sacred re.
cord runs thus: "And it came to pass as
they journeyed from the East that they found
q plain in the valley of Shinar, and they
dwet there. And they said one to another
Go to, let US make brick, and burn them
thoroughly; and they had brick for stone,
Cor instead of stone, } and slime had they for
mortar" Modern sceptics may. ask, where
could these builders obtain all this bitumen2
for vast quantity must have been de.
manded to meet the wants of so many trow-
els. 1t is singular coincidence that Mr..
Place discoverhd fountain at small dis
tance from the tower, whose waters flow in
such abundance as almost to form river
The stream would force its way into river
in the vicinity, did not the people haston to
stop it by setting the bituminous food on
fire, when they TRANQUILITY wait till the fire is
extinguished for the want of aliment Thus
the old fountain still pours out inexhaust-
able quantities of bitumen, or slime, which
supplied these old builders in their vast en-
terprise. Bitumen also adds to the dura-
bility of bricks, as we'll as firmly consolidates
them in masonry. Could anything be added
to the marvel of the condolences? Thus
travels and expeditions in Assyria become
Biblical corollaries, and new proofs are nev.
er wanting of old truths.
Among the interesting discoveries of Mr..
Place were certain inscriptions on fllets of
gold, silver and copper, and also upon met
al now unknown, and which has somewhat
of the appearance of ivory. 1t has been sub.
mitted to the experiments of intelligent me.
tallurgist, and its qualities will soon be as
certained. -n -. -
Some very curious Photographs, taken by
the expedition, completed their labors, one
of which was of the ruins Of the palace Of
the famous Queen Semiramis. This ancient
monument, situated on the height of noun
tain raised by the hands of men, overlooks
the awful solitudes which surround Lake
Van-a body of water six or seven times larg-
er than Lake Geneva,
1t is not strange that a gentleman who had
seen and handled some of the articles brought
from the Tower of Babel by Mr. Place should
be excited as he says he was: sIn relation
to archaeological. news I take the liberty to
inform you that have just seen the oldest
things of the Old World. Indeed, / do not
know that should be more surprised by see-
ing the fragments of the ark itself. Fancy
10 yourself that I have just touched and held
IN my hand, and turned again in every way,
/ little moroccan Of the Tower of Babel! This
;rinket Of moulded clay, illustrated and ba.
sed by the sons of Noah, has passed from the
plain of Shinar to the chapel of st. Mesmin,
ind is the fruit of the strokes of the hammer
n the hand of Mr.. Place, our learned and
'nterprising Consul, to whom I am indebted
or sight at this precious little relic, about
which cluster so many grand souvenirs. I"
I will only add, that if your readers wish
o obtain distinct and accurate idea of the
egion referred to, in which lies the battle
ield of Albela, and the plain Of Shinar, they
hould open their atlas and survey the coun-
ry between Mesnl an the Tioris and Take