A Popular Account of Discoveries at Nineveh

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

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

Sherghat. M. Botta's Discoveries. Khorsabad. Return to Mosul,

CHAPTER II.

Mohammed Pashaw. His Cruelties. The State of the Country. Start

for Nimroud. An Arab Family. Commence Excavations. Discov-

ery of a Chamber-of Inscriptions-of Ivory Ornaments. Return

to Mosul. Conduct of the Pashaw. Excavations commenced among

various Ruins. Return to Nimroud. Further Discoveries. Sela-

miyah. Discovery of Sculptures. Description of Bas-reliefs. In-

terrupted by the Pashaw. Further Discovery of Sculptures. Dep-

osition of the Pashaw. Departure for Baghdad,

CHAPTER III.

Return to Mosul. Ismail Pashaw. 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.

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

of the Colossal Lions. Surprise of the Arabs. Sensation at Mosul,

and Conduct of the Pashaw and Cadi. Excavations stopped. Further

Discoveries. 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 Tun-

nel of Negoub. An Assyrian Inscription,

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CHAPTER 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 mov-
ing. The Tents of Sofuk. Description of the Shammar Sheikh.
His History. Sofuk's Harem and Wives. His Mare. Ride to Al
Hather. Arab Guides. The Ruins of Al Hather. Return to Mosul.
Murder of Nejris-and of Sofuk,

CHAPTER V.

Discovery of Small Objects. Pavement of the Chambers. An Arab
Feast. Arrival of Tahyar Pashaw. Excavations continued. The
Summer at Nimroud. A Whirlwind. Further Discoveries of Bas-

reliefs. Description of the Sculptures. Painted Plaster. Receipt
of Vizirial Letter. Excavations at Kouyunjik. Fresh Discoveries
at Nimroud. Surprise of the Arabs. First Collection of the Sculp-
tures sent to England. Visit from Tahyar Pashaw. Speculations of
the Turks on the Sculptures. Remove to Mosul. Discovery of a
Building in a Mound near Kouyunjik. New Chambers opened at
Nimroud,.

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CHAPTER VI.

Departure for the Tiyari Mountains. Khorsabad. Sheikh Adi. A
Kurdish Encampment. A Chaldean Village. Amadiyah. A Turk-
ish Governor. Albanian Irregulars. An Albanian Chief. The
Valley of Berwari. Chaldean Villages. A Kurdish Boy. Asheetha, 105

CHAPTER VII.

Asheetha. A Nestorian House. The Massacre. Zaweetha. Nestorian Priests. Murghi. Lizan. Scene of the Massacre. A Tiyari Bridge. Raola. The House of the Melek. The District of Tkhoma. Alarm of the Inhabitants. Church Service. Tkhoma Gowaia. A Kurdish Chief. Pass into Baz. Ergub. Return to Tkhoma. Bealatha. Roads of Tiyari. Chonba. Murder of Melik Ismail. Return to Asheetha. Kasha Auraham. A Copper Mine. Challek. Ourmeli. A Subashi. A Kurdish Saint. Malthayiah. Sculptures.

CONTENTS.

Alkosh. Tomb of the Prophet Nahum. Rabban Hormuzd. Telkef and its Christian inhabitants. Return to Mosul. Second Massacre in the Nestorian Mountains. Capture and Exile of Beder Khan Bey,

XIX

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CHAPTER VIII.

Invitation to the Feast of the Yezidis. Departure from Mosul. Baadri. Hussein Bey, the Yezidi Chief. The Birth of his Son. History of the Yezidis. Ride to the Tomb of Sheikh Adi. Sheikh Nasr. Description of the Tomb. Arrival of Pilgrims. An Incident. Sheikh Shems, or the Sun. Votive Lamps. Celebration of Rites. Yezidis Music. The Doctrine and Religious Observances of the Sect. The Evil Principle. The probable Origin of their Rites. Their Orders of Priesthood. Their Language and Books. Return to Mosul. Departure for the Sinjar. Abou Maria. Tel Afer. Mirkan. Escape of the Yezidis. The Village of Sinjar. Wild Asses,

. 171

CHAPTER IX.

Excavations undertaken by the British Museum.

Choice of Work

men. Dwelling Houses built at Nimroud. Discovery of Bas-reliefs of Armor and Helmets-of Vases-of new Chambers-of the Obelisk. Discoveries in the S. W. Corner of the Mound. Winged Lions. Crouching 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 Chaldeans. A Raft plundered. Seizure of an Arab Sheikh. Departure of Sculptures for Busrah,

207

CHAPTER X.

Death of Tahyar Pashaw. Discoveries in the N.W. Palace. Ivory Ornaments and Cartouches with Hieroglyphics. Painted Chambers. Pottery. Discovery of Upper Chambers. Paintings on the Walls. Pavement Slabs. Discoveries in the Center 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, 243

CHAPTER XI.

Excavations at Kalah Sherghat. Departure for the Ruins. The
Bitumen Pits. Abd'rubbou. My Reception. Discovery of a sit-
ting Figure. Arab Encampment. Arab Life. Excavations in the
Mound. Discovery of Tombs. Return to Nimroud,

CHAPTER XII.

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

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

winged Bull. Its Removal from the Ruins. Exciteinent of the

Arabs. Removal of the Lion. Rafts for the Transport of the Sculp-

tures to Busrah. Embarkation of the Lion and Bull. General De

scription of the Ruins,

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