New-York tribune., 1875-02-05

considerable success. Remains OF sculptures anu
mounds were discovered with inscriptions from
the temples of Nebo and Merodach There
were also inscriptions from Shamaneser l.,
king of Assyria recording that he 1ouhueo
the palace of Niueveh. and mixed up with
these were remains of inscriptions belonging
TO the same monarch stating that he restored
the temple of Ishtar From the same spot came IN
scriptions of his son. Tugulti-ninp. the eonqueror
of Babyonia. relating that he also restored the
temple of Ishtar, and inscriptions of similar
purport of the monarchs, AssurnazI-pal and Shai-
maueser H. Some curious specimens of pottery
orpameuted with figures laid ON the clay were found
near the same spot. Between the chambers In the
center of the mound and the eastern edge there
were fragments of n palace and temple Inc
remains of the temple were most OF them
found in a square chamber. seemingly OF later
date built up Of stones from the ASsyrlan
buildings aear it, All along the walls were placed
small SQUARE slabs with inscriptions of AsSuroanlpal
dedicated to the goddess of Ninevch, none OF them
in their original position. Near this chamber were
fragments of an Obesk in black stone built luto q
later wall and many fragments OF palace Wlllch
stood in the neGhbOrhOod Among these was an N
scripton of king of Assyiia, 1l10 Is. e., ana several
fragments from sculptured walls representing pro-
cesSions of warriors Near one corner of the palace
Il
ranged in punches Of cus each side, the face eX-
hibiting the usual cOpent style Of AsSyTlan female
beauty. Among other fragments the opening
portion Of copy from IN early BabyOnian nscrlp-
tion. giving the names of six new BabylOnian kings,
and some curious details of early Blbylonian his
tory. At subsequent date was found new por-
ton Of the sixth tablet Of the delugc series.
The principal excavation was carried on over
what Layard calls the library chamber Of the south
west palace. As discovered by Layard. this cham
Der was full of fragments of tablets up to foot Or
more from the floor IL cleared ont the chamber
and brought The treasures to England. Mr.. Smith,
however was never satisfied, after examining the
collection M the British Museum, that the whole o.
the library had been brought home and adhered to
The conviction that more than one-haf OK the tablets
must have remained in the palace. In accordance
with this idea he found nearly three thousand rag
ments Of tablets in th. chambers around LayardS
library chamber. NJ. smith concludes from the
position of the fragments, that the library was not
originally in these chambers, bat il an upper story
of the palace and on the ruin OF the building fell
into the chambers below.
Upon removing the top earth from section Of the
nal ace round the region of the library chamber the
author was rewarded with variety Of Gnds Of a
valuable character Al first, nothing turned up but
modern objects, coins. pottery, and glass, but Oh
going deeper the Asyrian cuneIform tablets were Of
frequent occurrence. in front of one OF the
entrances Mr. Smith discovered the Intel of door
way formed OF a block Of stone six feet long, and
sculptured along the face. In the center was an
ornamental cup or vase with two handles; on each
side stood winged griffin or dragon; and over the
cup and the dragon WIS an ornament OF honey
suckles This curious Intel is tine first ASsyran OBJ
icct of the kind which has been discovered and 1t
is no wonder that when lifted out OF the
excavation, it excited a thrill of pleasure. Many
fragments were found along the floor Of long
gallery, including syabaries. lilingral lists, and
mythologieal and historical tablets. There was Il
beautiful bronze AssYrian fork, with two prongS
ioned by an ornamental shoulder 10 q shoft oi
spiral work. ending in the head Of on ass This Is q
unique specimen Of A syrian work, and shows the
advance Of the people in the rehnemrntS OF hie.
Near by was found part OF a curious astTalobe and
fragments OF the history of SagOn, king Of Assyria
722B c. In one place, below the level of the floor
the anthor discovered a fine fragment OF The history
Of Assurbanipal containing new end cuiions matter
relating to his Egyptian war and 70 the affairs OF
Gyges king of LYDIA. Frou this part Of the palace
he also gained the shoulder Of a colossal statue
with an inscription OF AsSurbanlpaL In another
SPOT he obtained a bone spoon and fragment oi a
tablet with the history Of the seven evil spirits
Near this was found bronze STYLE, with which the
cunciform tablets were probably impressed In
another part of the excavation there were the re-
main, OF crystal and alaE4ster vases and specimens
Of the royal seal One Of these was a clay impress
sion OF the seal Of SaTgon. king Of'Assyrla.
Upon commencing the excavations in January
Mr.. Smith had only forty men, but he increased
them every day until they numbered nearly co.,
3 sgt,t.. Il
an interesting appearance Of hustle and activity.
The weather was severe and proved a senons en-
barrassment. Snow lay on tie mountains in sight
of Mosul, and at times ice remained on the mound
all day. Further up the country tn snow was very
deep and in the gorges OF the mou ,.ius attained
hight Of not less than ten feet ne Iigris was
swollen bv the melting SHOWS and iaayy rains and
overlooked large tracts Of land on :ae east bank.
During these uundatious all traffic tween the two
sides of the river was carried on by means f Terry
boats At one tnne Mr.. Smith had to ferry all his
men across lie river for several DAYS, at great cX-
pense and loss of time. Great Inconvenience was
experienced from the Turkish officials, VINO created
so many annOyanceS that a; the beginning of Febrn-
ary the work entirely suspended fOrseVeIal days
Mr. Smith left Mosul on the fourth OF April, and
after various interesting excursions, arrived at
Alexandria toward the end Of May, and finally
reacL he'd London on the 9th of June. The most I'M
poran result of the expedition was the recovery of
new tablets containing the Chaldean account of the
! deluge. There is still much required to complete
the series but in their present state, they form one
OF the most remarkable collections of inscriptions
vet discovered. The whole number of inscriptions
discovered by Mr. Smith during the four months in
which he was engaged in excavation, amounted to
over 5000. besides many other objects of great
! ,;.,1; In iuct
! prscd very important texts and Antiquities The
! majority Of the fragments form parts OF
texts Of which the other portions were
! =. IL NI.iaDnnl md tLn nnry