Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-08

end OF the lntersecting TESTING RAINFALL.
streets. Canals flowed through Babylon in
every direction as they do in Venice.
Though containing 100000 inhabitants
Babylon was not closely built up like London
or Paris, but the houses Of the city were much
scattered and parts Of the town had q semi
suburban aspect Great areas of pasture land
also were included within the walls, SO that the
city could well-nigh support its inhabitants by
the produce OF its own rich acres. When Cy-
rus King ofsPersla, laid siege to the city in the
sixth century before Christ, Babylon was pro-
Vlsioned Tor twenty years, and could undoubt-
edy nave held out for an indefinite period
had II not been for the carelessness or tresch-
cry that gave the foe an entrance.
THE FAMOUS HANGING GARDENS.
The most extraordinary architectural work
Of Babylon before its fall was the Hanging
Gardens" which King Nebuchadnez Ear erected
for his vile Amytis Southern Syria is a re-
gion OF most internal heat in summer, lnasmuch
as 1t Is a level plain and the climate semi
tropical. And thus it was that Nebuchadne zzar
undertook the task Of building for his ROYAL
bride sort Of terraced garden far above the
level OF the earth. 1t was an artificial
mountain 400 feet in height and reared
with terraces resting upon columns, the
whole bound together by q wall % feet thick
On the uppermost terrace we're reservoirs for
irrigation, supplied with river water by an en-
CINE worked by slaves The terraces, thus
raised upon columns were overlaid with earth
to a depth sufficient to support the largest
trees, and artificial streams with fish in them
flowed along the terraces, descending from one
to another In miniature cataracts.
HOW BABYLON WAS CAPTURED.
When Cyrus sat down before the city to besiege
it the Babyionians laughed at him. They had
provisions enough to last them twenty years, and
they knew that all the strength of the Persian
army could never get through their impreg-
nable walls. Unhappily the Babylonians had
weakness for going on periodical sprees. On the
night OF the capture King Belshazzar was per-
In which the whole metropolis was joining with
enthusiasm The guards were careless and
Cyrus took the opportunity to drain of the
Euphrates into the distant artificial lake. Then
he marched his soldiers into the city along the
bed OF the stream, and, finding the river gates
open, proceeded to the very door of the pal
ace, where an orgy was progressing Beshaz-
Ear came forward, sword in hand, and was
slain.
CURIOUS YAcra
BY way OF parenthesis Q few little facts about
Babylon are worth mentioning. There was one
large tribe among the people which gave to il
women authority, the men looking to them for
control IS wives ordinarily look to their hus-
bands The rate OF interest charged for money,
- shown BY tablets dug upI was 8, 4 and s
per cent Frequent memoranda have been dis
covered in clay as to full prices and cut
prlcea A simple system OF divorce was pro-
vided- II either party did not like hin or her
mate the match could be declared OF 1t ANY
time by returning the purchase money and
canceling the marriage cGetract There vere
no physicians in Babylon, Nnt the sick we're
their fellow citizens we're obliged 81 law 70 ia.
spect them and 70 give advice In case they had
ever suffered similar troubles.
Cyrus did not destroy Babylon after he CAP
tured the city. But the town. ceasing 70 be the
abode Of dominion, shrunk, and, about 500 b
c., . large part Of its inhabitants migrated and
much OF its ipelosed territory vas pIoved No.
What rsmsins Of the city il found today In the