, 1879-07-19
ASSYRIAN EXPLORATIONS.
Tho lsesuits Of Mr.. Rassan's Second Ex-
rnttftfon.

aAO 1kEHult3 OF H1F. hH6hAu1e 3cC0nu E1-
rn,ttfon.
konHnn Tntt. JHiy H.
MI. 1lorMuxd Rassafn has just returned TO
England. bringing with him t1lr results OF his
second expedition to explore tic mounds OF Tire
TlRro- -Euphrutcs Valley. Although not furnish
Ing any such 0ral,tl discovery as tlut Ut the
bruuzc gates from Balawnt, the expedition has
bccn at extremely successful one. With tllc
exception Of tho explorations In Syria, nnA espc-
cialty OIL the sltc Of Cafcllcm1sh. 1lr. 1asaar
las followed the programme which was detailed
IN The Times Of Oct. ~, 1873. fl!s cxplosa-
tfons On the mounds Of Etncrcf have this ttme
cxtcn1ed 10 4 site hitherto untouched by iormer
cxpioross,-iihtncty: the mound Ut the Ncbby-
Yuns1s, Ut Tomb of Jonnll. III this mound lie
was fortunately abIc 10 mako some few ex-
plusatsons ind to rccuycr a numbor Of inscribed
fragments bcuring Inscriptions ot The rcignt OF
EaArhutllon aud Sehhae!lvrib. rs we'll ns soInr
ntatnetteB Iii trtr eUttn, which exhibit higher
art tlan my tciose recovered. Explorations
layu been continued III hosl tllc palaces vi Scnra
inarrbc.t tablets have becu recovered. On the
mounds OF Nn.roud, ttpe exploration nt the
Teiflpia site, discovered BY Mr.. ltnsaam In his
of tragments vi tlles and several inscriptions
wero recovered. This temple, t>r rather bic
nrcnt ts now found ~ haye contained ii nuinber
Of u1tats al we'll AS systematically y.AsrahErd
6GflE8 Vi 6cAt8. ~ Mpul4 MpuG4F FallGF ~ ilnTG
bcpn ss,ceies Of forum, wllere religious assc.l.
bles, councils, ami utlcr gatherings were hcld
Warned ty tle violont r!ota which attended his
fe,ipes exploEalions H. TIC nsonnl os l1S!awas
air. llassnm Ibis carefully aIAtuincd fnpn any
| attempt 10 contlnno s'.e work there Ais tabo1s
On sltcs which did not couIo within tllr svopg Of
| his formor expeditions hive been n1ost fruitful
considering TIE short period wi'!eh tu war 9h'e
ahcrgas, tho site Of the ancient City Of Assur
| tho primitive Capital Of .Assy1tn, tarc nucn en-
fcllcd our knowtrfge uf tlta site nuu furnished
ns with sb.ne valuable Inscriptions of t',e +as,y
Assyrtan Empire. AmunE thrse W. may eEMGtat-
ly roticc one brick wrIltri, IN Il most arcintG
script.
Tie discoveries which Mr.. .aasau, has bcen
able to make on the MOllntls ot HaYlonia Will
to wu'comcl by nil students u nrctncn}Ey, fur
i hitherto thc parr.lt EInplre llas beun nIc. neg
! lected In fnvur Ut Inc northern ofYst,pot. the
AssyrInn Empire. Mr.. Rassatn WIS utIu, after
considerable atnouns Ut opposition By tho brick
nebace to their vandalism. to carry Dilt serfcs
OF explorations on hlost Ut t1n mounds. FROM
the examination, u the f"tna buried beneath the
Mugcl[be Iii. iiassam has bocn nbla to asccr
tain Thu site of the cdAco fron, whrlI 1lave come
tic berries VI t,nnistny and rutsanrrtfa, tnb1es
| known "a tllc EEibi tallctB. Frotn thu rrlutIun
OF Tits ediNre 10 .he Ksnr's na'are, 1t standing
on Tic northeast side aft,p.'s n nlnbcr ot snal1
buildings, evidently Tic loynl 0tfieea 1t IL BOW
rlrar thai tte ,iteory aaYas'eei by Mr. bossAwen,
that thu tradcrs were also the keepers Ut thu
Kings Treasury aal Tie rcret'le otllsers OF
thu K'""s Of Babylon, rceelvrs stronU
confirmation llfll.ertu, owing to the irrcgu-
larttY whfrh' has characterized the system nf
| digging Among thu mounds Of Bah, lot't no
t:aees ot any rrEa!as edsase haT" hyeu seunu.
htr lsossan1. flnscver, sunIlaEed ~ tnfusc some
| sGcitA 1T Ordrr Rnlpjy tito bTcH-h1lt'tcre, nnd
tic result was thc dfscoycry NJ several hns afl
roons. ~ 4 mnana raiich 5nojnba. the jnm~
luna uf Mr.. fse1l'H ucalUfr, lle discovered the
run,atas Of largo '.nt! ot mus. rich eonssrue.
lun. Painted brtrks. rich lntlian wooln. ..lstI
enaneled tiles, ntl ial!cntcd Tbs richness oi tlc
editicc. Ills excavations IN the birs Ntnlrnntt
nn,i b number of Inscriptions. 4 most Interest,"
t,lg discoYury 1t, connection With ths ruin has
resulted Ffou tic examination OF l!ic hite 1y
Mt. t,assa.,;--nasnely, tl,at its destruetio" WAS
bit to Il yaea.,ie es"ptio's, Witch l,as spt tie
wliolc cditltc III tHAiu, anI yftrllted MlI the
brIck~work With which the lava md flame camc
n con1art. Yhe exploration ii Bah 'a ',s ~ too
the short but truthful visit of Mr.. Rassatu will
tend to aisert intention Il, tEe stte.
We nsu glad to toto tint Mr. lsassam carried
out the rowing commission which We inlsats.l
authority On tic Ettnetant cSplosprs from Hagll.
dad. lie paid visit to the MOUND u Fes No,
aud exAmfncd AI1d copied thu inscription nn thu
black basulL statue which was there. !le has H.
10 obtained number Ut Inscribed tablets frolIl
th1s alto. nit, among them aro several Ut ttlose
!ntsrs rssttrg examples Ut hahylouaaa cuatlttse,
Tie commercial i6clH 1n uuulirate, u p!lo cory
forming utl envelope tn u.a Olner. From Lhls
sito Ito also obtained ,,Wtnbcr uf very curious,
inscrlDeh coins. With legends Ut early nun.
urebs. During his visi. so thu city ol Ha2t'dad
he obtained, bY purchase. d number of lnscrlD.
t!oms, nostly Of tl'u contraet Or co'nulefctnl
class. As air. Kassa.M ttaa uniy Aesn y lew aays
IN Engta1mt, Mnd Ennny vi hls cascs hayp still ts
10 forwarded, weca,lnut rs yet fully learn thu
rcasul 10 beIlayo lint students of hotls ttie
plltullgY md nrL ef thu Assyran md nahyl0n-
au EmUlrcs will tli1l much Ut Ereat Importance
10 aid them III all tllrir researches.