Whether the account given by Herodotus, as an eyewitness, of the size and splendour of Babylon is not exaggerated?--Manner in which the great Asiatic cities arose out of the royal encampments of the nomad conquerors. 3. _Countries between the Tigris and the Indus._ (_a_) Assyria, or the province of Adiabene; a table land. Cities: Nineveh, (Ninus,) Arbela. The name of Assyria is also frequently taken by the Greeks in a wider acceptation, as comprising both Mesopotamia and Babylonia; it is sometimes even confounded with Syria. (_b_) Susiana, a fruitful district, with the city Susa on the river Choaspes, or Eulaeus (Ulai), one of the residences of the Persian monarchs. (_c_) Persis, rugged and mountainous towards the north; level and fruitful in the centre; sandy towards the south. Rivers: the Cyrus and Araxes. Cities: Persepolis or Pasargada, the national palace and cemetery of the kings of Persia. The name of Persis was, in ancient as well as in modern geography, taken in a more extensive sense, as comprising all the countries between the Tigris and Indus, with the exception of Assyria. In this sense, it contains three countries towards the south--Persis, properly so called; Carmania, Gedrosia: three central countries--Media, Aria, Arachosia: and three countries towards the north--Parthia and Hyrcania, Bactria, Sogdiana. (_d_) Carmania, an extensive country, for the most part desert, ranging along the Persian gulf and Indian sea. Cities: Carmana, Harmozia. (_e_) Gedrosia, tract of land running along the coast between Carmania and India, and washed by the Indian sea. A mere sandy desert; towards the north, mountainous. Town, Pura. (_f_) Media, above Persis; an extensive and very fruitful country; mountainous towards the north. Rivers: Araxes, Cyrus, and Mardus. Cities: Ecbatana, Rages. The northern district was likewise known by the name of Atropatene (Azerbeijan), or Lesser Media. (_g_) Aria, a smooth table land, with a lake and river, Arius: and one city, Aria or Artacoana. (_h_) Arachosia; a rich and fertile country on the frontiers of India; bounded towards the north by the Paropamisus chain. Cities: Arachotus and Prophthasia. The neighbouring highlands, occupied by a numerous population, (now Cabul and Kandahar,) are often regarded, in consequence of their being subject to the Persian dominion, as forming part of Persia. They are known by the name of Paropamisus. (_i_) Parthia and Hyrcania, rugged mountainous districts to the north of Media; but abounding in magnificent and fertile vales. Before and during the predominance of Persia, but little known and little valued; and without cities. It was at a considerably later period that the inhabitants of Parthia became a dominant nation. (_k_) Bactria, the country on the south bank of the Oxus; rich in natural productions, and one of the most ancient marts of Asia. River: Oxus. Cities: Bactra and Zariaspa.