ancient and no less wonderful; but they have stood forth for ages to testify her early power and renown; whilst those before me had but now appeared to bear witness in the words of the prophet, that once "the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches and with a shadowing shroud of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs .... his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long, because of the multitude of waters when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations;" for now is "Nineveh a desolation and dry like a wilderness, and flocks lie down in the midst of her all the beasts of the nations, both the cormorant and bittern, lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice sings in the windows; and desolation is in the thresholds." *

Behind the lions was another chamber.† I uncovered about fifty feet of its northern wall. On each slab was carved the winged figure with the horned cap, fir-cone, and square vessel or basket. They were in pairs facing one another and divided by an emblematic tree, similar to that on the corner stone in chamber B. All these bas-reliefs were inferior in execution, and finish, to those previously discovered.

During the month of March I received visits from

* Ezekiel, xxxi. 3., &c., Zephaniah, ij. 13. and 14.
† Chamber C.

the principal Sheikhs of the Jebour Arabs, whose tribes had now partly crossed the Tigris, and were pasturing their flocks in the neighbourhood of Nimroud, or cultivating millet on the banks of the river. The Jebour are a branch of the ancient tribe of Obeid. Their encamping grounds are on the banks of the Khabour, from its junction with the Euphrates, from the ancient Carchemish or Circesium,

to its source at Ras-el-Ain. They were suddenly attacked and plundered a year or two ago by the Aneyza; and being compelled to leave their haunts, took refuge in the districts around Mosul. The Pasha, at first, received them well; but learning that several mares of pure Arab blood still remained with the Sheikhs, he determined to seize them. To obtain them as presents, or by purchase, he knew to be impossible; he consequently formed the design of taking the tribe by surprise, as they had been thrown off their guard by their friendly reception. A body of irregular troops was accordingly sent for the purpose towards their tents; but the Arabs, suspecting the nature of their visit, prepared to resist. A conflict ensued in which the Pasha's horsemen were completely defeated. A more formidable expedition, including regular troops and artillery, now marched against them. But they were again victorious and repulsed the Turks with considerable loss. They fled, nevertheless, to the desert, where they had since been wandering in great misery, joining with the Shammar and other tribes in plundering the villages of the Pashalic. On learning the measures taken by Ismail

Pasha, dying with hunger, they had returned to arable lands on the banks of the river; where, by an imperfect and toilsome fashion of irrigation, they could, during the summer months, raise a small supply of millet to satisfy their immediate necessities.

The Jebour were at this time divided into three branches, obeying different Sheikhs. The names of the three chiefs were Abd'rubbou, Mohammed Emin, and Mohammed ed Dagher. Although all three visited me at Nimroud, it was the first with whom I was best acquainted, and who rendered me most assistance. I thought it necessary to give them each small presents, a silk dress, or an embroidered cloak, with a pair of capacious boots, as in case of any fresh disturbances in the country it would be as well to be on friendly terms with the tribe. The intimacy, however, which sprang from these acts of generosity, was not in all respects of the most desirable or convenient nature. The Arab compliment of " my house is your house was accepted more literally than I had intended, and I was seldom free from a large addition to my establishment. A Sheikh and a dozen of his attendants were generally installed in my huts, whilst their mares were tied at every door. My fame even reached the mountains, and one day, on returning from Mosul, I found a Kurdish chief, with a numerous suite, in the full enjoyment of my premises. The whole party were dressed in the height of fashion. Every colour had received due consideration in their attire. Their arms were of very superior design and workmanship, their turbans of adequate height and