The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-12-21

his thoughts, although in actual miles not
far from his native Kurdistan-as 1t is
from ours. He had read the Arabian
Nights" and had seen the rich rugs and
carpets from Bagdad. but that was about
all.
The American who had sent ahead Tor
the Interpreter was Mr.. William Hayes
Ward, who was in charge of the Wolfe
Babylonian expedition in 1884. He was
minister and an orientalist and his "a
terest in the ancient ruins of Babylon
was that of profound scholar.
Noorian's work as an interpreter was
not easy at first, because he had but
slight knowledge of English. The worst
of 1t was that he could get no Arabic
English dictionary. He managed to get
an English Armenian dictionary. an Ar
menan-Turkish dictionary, and Tur-
kish-Arabic dictionary. So at first In or
der to interpret the words of the Arabic
natives of the plains of Babylon. unless he
knew the English equivalent, he had to
consult three dictionaries.
1t was as Noorian had hoped. When in
the spring of 1856 the Wolfe expedition
terminated it's work In Babylon Noorian
followed Mr.. Ward to the land Of his
dreams. A few years later, when this
University of Pennsylvania sent out the
expedition to excavate Nippur-the most
promising city in the valley Of the Tigris
and Euphrates-Noorian. as the most ex-
perienced interpreter to be had. was one
of the party.
During the expedition the plains of the
irs-Tuphrates valley were made to give
UP unhoped for store of historic records.
And while the other members of the party
spent their time deep In studies of the
ancient country Noorian's duties were
manifold. When the grand vizier refused
to let the party pass their rifles through
the custom house 1t was Noorian who
had to smuggle them from one steamer to
another by lowering them In a rubber case
from the shady side of his rowboat.
Later, when the Arabic muleteers en-
ployed by the party stole the mules and
hid them in cave under the city, 1t was
Noorian who was directed to flog the
muleteers to the point Of returning the
animals. When at last the party
got to Nippur it was Noorian who
contracted and bargained with the natives
to make the excavation, and later kept
800 of them working In the trenches. He
coaxed and scolded and TESTED and hui
mored these stubborn sons of the plain to
do their work without which the expedi-
tion would have been in vain. When they
went to the city of Nejef to visit the
sacred tomb of Ali. 1t was Noorian who
made his way at the risk of his life into
the sacred precincts to catch a glimpse
of the shrine.
But as they worked In Nippur through
the sitting heat and humidity. subject to
native violence and fickleness each day
brought out q new hope for treasure.
When at last the treasures did begin to
pour out from the excavations 1t was
Noorian more than any one else who ap-
preoiatsd the jewels and articles Of
precious metal. In one ancient temple
they came upon what they afterward
called the Jewellers shop" In this room
there was largo wooden bog Allied with
products of tho jewelers. art OF remotest
antiquity. These were knob-shaped orn-
RmsHts Of nagassite, piaees of Iapia iasuli
and bits Of gold, turquoise and maiachits
Just where the hand Of the jeweisF had
left them ages before.
Everywhere the party went there were