CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

First Journey in Assyria. Its Ruins. Kouyunjik, Nimroud, and Kalah

Sherghat. M. Botta's Discoveries. Khorsabad. Return to Mosul Page 1

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CHAP. II.

Mohammed Pasha. His Cruelties. The State of the Country. Start for

Nimroud. An Arab family. Commence Excavations. Discovery of

a Chamber of Inscriptions of Ivory Ornaments. Return to Mosul.

Conduct of the Pasha. Excavations commenced amongst various Ruins.

Return to Nimroud. Further Discoveries. Selamiyah. Discovery of

Sculptures. Description of Bas-reliefs. Interrupted by the Pasha.

Further Discovery of Sculptures. Deposition of the Pasha. Departure

for Baghdad

12

CHAP. III.

Dis-

Return to Mosul. Ismail Pasha. Change in the State of the Country.

Return to Nimroud. The Ruins in Spring. Excavations resumed.

Further Discoveries. New Interruptions. Sheikh Abd-ur-Rahman and

the Abou-Salman Arabs. Fresh Bas-reliefs in the N.W. Corner.

covery of the Principal Palace. Entire Bas-reliefs. Discovery of the

Colossal Lions. Surprise of the Arabs. Sensation at Mosul, and Con-

duct of the Pasha and Cadi. Excavations stopped. Further Disco-

veries. Description of the Human-headed Lions. Reflections on their

Antiquity and Object. The Jebour Arabs. Their Sheikhs. Nimroud

in March. Description of the Plain at Sunset. The Tunnel of Negoub.

An Assyrian Inscription

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35

CHAP. IV.

Preparations for a Journey to Al Hather. Gathering of the Caravan.

Leave Mosul. The Desert. Flocks of Camels. The Haddedeen Arabs.

An Arab Repast. An Encampment. An Arab Tribe moving. The

a

Tents of Sofuk. Description of the Shammar Sheik

Sofuk's Harem and Wives. His Mare. Ride to Al

Guides. The Ruins of Al Hather. Return to Mos

Nejris and of Sofuk

Discovery of Small Objects. Pavement of the Chamb

Feast. Arrival of Tahyar Pasha. Excavations continu

mer at Nimroud. A Whirlwind. Further Discoveries

Description of the Sculptures. Painted Plaster.
Rec

Letter. Excavations at Kouyunjik. Fresh Discoveri

Surprise of the Arabs. First Collection of Sculptures s

Visit from Tahyar Pasha. Speculations of the Turks on

Remove to Mosul. Discovery of a Building in a Mound

New Chambers opened at Nimroud

Departure for the Tiyari Mountains. Khorsabad. Sh

Kurdish Encampment. A Chaldæan Village. Amadiya

Governor. Albanian Irregulars. An Albanian Chief.

Berwari. Chaldæan Villages. A Kurdish Bey. Ashee

Asheetha. A Nestorian House. The Massacre. Zaweet
Priests. Murghi. Lizan. Scene of the Massacre. A
Raola. The House of the Melek. The District of Tk
of the Inhabitants. Church Service. Tkhoma Gowaia
Chief. Pass into Baz. Ergub. Return to Tkhoma. Be-
of Tiyari. Chonba. Murder of Melik Ismail. Return
Kasha Auraham. A Copper Mine. Challek. Ourmeli
A Kurdish Saint. Malthayiah. Sculptures. Alkosh.
Prophet Nahum. Rabban Hormudz. Telkef and its C
bitants. Return to Mosul. Second Massacre in the Nes
tains. Capture and Exile of Beder Khan Bey

Invitation to the Feast of the Yezidis. Departure from M

Hussein Bey, the Yezidi Chief. The Birth of his Son. H

Yezidis. Ride to the Tomb of Sheikh Adi. Sheikh Nasr.

of the Tomb. Arrival of Pilgrims. An Incident. Shei

the Sun. Votive Lamps. Celebration of Rites. Yezidis

Doctrine and Religious Observances of the Sect. The E

The probable Origin of their Rites. Their Orders of

Their Language and Books. Return to Mosul. Depar

Sinjar. Abou Maria. Tel Afer. Mirkan. Escape of

The Village of Sinjar. Wild Asses

CHAP. IX.

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Excavations undertaken by the British Museum. Choice of Workmen.

Dwelling Houses built at Nimroud. Discovery of Bas-reliefs-of

Armour and Helmets of Vases of new Chambers of the Obelisk.

Discoveries in the S. W. Corner of the Mound. Winged Lions. Crouch-

ing Sphinxes. Discovery of Tombs in the S.E. Corner of the Mound.

Arab Workmen. Mode of Irrigation. Customs of the Arabs. Facility

of Divorce. Arab Women. The Tiyari or Chaldæans. A Raft

plundered. Seizure of an Arab Sheikh. Departure of Sculptures for

Busrah
Page 207

СНАР. Х.

Death of Tahyar Pasha. Discoveries in the N.W. Palace. Ivory Orna-

ments and Cartouches with Hieroglyphics. Painted Chambers. Pot-

tery. Discovery of Upper Chambers. Paintings on the Walls. Pave-

ment Slabs. Discoveries in the Centre of the Mound. Tombs containing

Vases and Ornaments. Sculptures. Further Discoveries in the S.W.

Edifice. Sculptures. Discovery of more Tombs in the S.E. Corner-

of Chambers beneath them - of a vaulted Room

CHAP. XI.

243

Excavations at Kalah Sherghat. Departure for the Ruins. The Bitumen

Pits. Abd'rubbou. My Reception. Discovery of a sitting Figure.

Arab Encampment. Arab Life. Excavations in the Mound. Dis-

covery of Tombs. Return to Nimroud

CHAP. XII.

268

Artificial Irrigation of Assyria. Want of Rain. Preparations for the Re-

moval of a winged Bull and Lion. The Cart. Lowering the winged

Bull. Its Removal from the Ruins. Excitement of the Arabs. Re-

moval of the Lion. Rafts for the Transport of the Sculptures to Busrah.

Embarcation of the Lion and Bull. General Description of the Ruins 282

Departure from Nimroud.

CHAP. XIII.

Excavations at Kouyunjik. Discovery of a

Palace. Bas-reliefs. General Description of the Sculptures. Excava-

tions carried on by Mr. Ross. His Discoveries. A sculptured Slab and

Sarcophagus. Preparations for my Return to Constantinople. Leave

Mosul

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LIST OF WOODCUTS AND PLANS.

Lowering the Bull.

South-west Ruin, Nimroud.

Group from a Bas-relief discovered in the S. W. Palace.

North-west Palace, Nimroud.

Winged Figure. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.) Vessel or Basket carried by Winged Figures.

Assyrian Ornament. (Nimroud.) Greek Honey-suckle Ornament. Greek

Sacred Tree. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)

Honey-suckle Ornament

Eagle-headed Figure. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)

Discovery of the gigantic Head

Winged human-headed Lion.

A Shammar Lady on a Camel.

Frontispiece.

Facing page 21

In page 27 Facing page 42

In page 43

In page 44

In page 45

In page 46

In page 48

In page

In page 63

Handles of three Daggers carried in the Girdle. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)

In page 84

Winged human-headed Bull. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)
Battering Ram with moveable Tower containing Warriors.
Nimroud.)

Sacred Emblems suspended round the Neck of the King. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)

In page 94

Ornament on the Dress of Eunuchs. Ornament on the Robe of King.

In page 95

In page 96

In page 97

Ornament on the Robe of winged Figure.

Head-Dress of the King. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)

The King's Sandal. (N.W. Palace, Nimroud.) The King's Footstool. (N.W. Palace, Nimroud.) End of a Sword Sheath. (N.W. Palace, Nimroud.) The King's Throne. (N. W. Palace, Nimroud.)