San Andreas independent., 1857-02-28

IAOHidIRdOIe ana startling discoveries
In the East.
DISCOVERIES OF THE RUINS OF THE TOWER OF
BABEL.
Beirut, Monday, Dec. s, 1856.
EDITORS OF THE TRAVELLER 1t is nearly two
years since that informed your readers of the
grand and instructive discoveries in ancient
Ninevah, made by Mr.. Place, the French Consul
in Mosul. Following up the ancient researches
of Mr. Rotta and Mr.. Layard, he brought to light
monuments of that long-entomed city, which
equally amazed and delighted the world. A
man OF genius and enthusiasm, he was encour-
aged by his successes to extend his researches,
which he now closes with an achievement,
which, if his opinions shall be verified, will add
imperishable lustre to his name. The Tower of
Babel was supposed to exist only as Biblical
souyenir-a thing of memory and not of sub
stance. And, indeed, to many who contempla-
ted it only in its audacity and folly, it seemed
a myth OR a fancy only of Oriental imaginative
ness or superstition. Besides, no locality was
assigned to the structure, except the great plain
of Shinar, and no debris or ruins remained as
the proof of its veritable reality
How surprising, then its discovery-if dis
coyery it shall prove-that Titanic structure
whose base was laid 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? Ninevah has Welded up
its secrets after burial of long centuries. Bab-
ylon once the glory Of the Chaldean's excellen-
cy, has opened her gates again, if not to her
Persian beseigers, at least to the living genera
ton, of all races, and in her cvlinder-books of
fers 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 pierce the skies
and defy second deluge! If it seems too much
for belief, what should be thought incredible,
when Ninevah and Babylon are brought back to
the land of the living by a sort of resurrection,
and their monuments of art are travelling
through the nations to amaze and delight man
| kind +?
Besides, there is a providence to be traced in
these discoveries. They serve not only to arouse
but to instruct; they not only CRAFTY the curios-
ity but establish beyond all doubt and contro-
versy the yeracty and 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 it 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 a few words,
expecting soon to receive fuller details, at the
same time remarkng that the French Consul
General OF Beirut Mr.. Lisseps, has received va
rious curious articles which were found in the
tower, which hope to see and describe.
think my hand, if not my heart, will fairly
trembe, if once it takes hold of the shoves, the
trowels, and the hods used by those old masons
and builders.
The village of Arbela, so famous in history
for the decisive battle fought near it by Darius
and Alexander, is only few days journey
from Mosul, to which Mr.. Place, wearied with
the monotonous wonders of Ninevah set of
with his accustomed enthusiasm in search OF
new discoveries, in region celebrated in class
ical history. On his 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 dsmounted
when they reached the field of Arbela follow
ing the example of the Consul, who wished to
study the battlefield and this he was obliged
to do standing, as Turkish etiquette permits no
one to remain seated in his saddle. Soon, how
ever, he mounted again. i'll order to scour the
plain, and the escort did the same, except a
single Turk of enormous proportions, who fol-
lowed on foot, putting and bathed III sweat
Mr.. Place, plying him for his sad phi ght, asked
him if he did THIS because he preferred walking
to riding
By no means" replied the Turk; 9 but | am
unable to rcmount my horse, because Ineed the
help of stone i'll order to regain my stirrup,
and who can find single stone in all the plain
of Gingarnella p
Now it is well known that Darius employed
100000 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 battlefield or Arbcla,
rises hill of colossal dimensions, whose object
the party vainly conjeetured, thinking it might
be tomb, or a triumphal monument or more
likely both. Unfortunately, they had not time
to examine it, nor the appliances necessary for
exploring it.
Passing on, Mr. Place and his party at length
discovered what they believed to be nothing
less than the veritablc remains of the Tower of
Babel-the wonder of wonders, and the grand
est spectacle which the eyes Of men can con-
template in this age of the world. This proud
/ Tower, which was built in defiance 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 crum-
bled into DUST but the two which remain are
so high that they may be seen for fifty or sixty
miles around. The base of the tower is quad
rangular, and each side about six hundred feet
long. The tower is made of bricks of the pure
est clay, and Of white color, which is a little
shaded with a yellow tint. Under a clear sun,
and as a WHOLE this ancient monument of hu-
man skill and daring, presents fine blending
of colors which sets the painters pallet at def
ancc. Before being baked, the bricks had been
covered with characters, traced with the accu-
racy of the hand of a writing-master Near the
top of the letters the straight strokes were
adorned with fourishes resembling the heads
of nails. All was neat, regular and severe
and, indeed, those who saw these specimens of
ancient calligraphy, affirmed that the fathers
of the human race wrote a better hand than
their children.
Another curious fact arrested the attention
of the exploring party. The sacred record runs
thus: " And it came to pass as they journeyed
from the East, that they found a plain in the
valley of Shinar, and they dwelt there And
they said one to another-Go to- let us make
brick, and burn them thoroughly and they had