the inside of the wall, the greatest care being needed not to damage the sculptures which generally line it, and which, as it is, are more or less injured and cracked, their upper parts sometimes entirely destroyed by the action of fire. When the tunnel has been carried along the four sides, every doorway or portal carefully noted and cleared, it is seen from the measurements,--especially the width--whether the space explored be an inner court, a hall or a chamber. If the latter, it is sometimes entirely cleared from above, when the rubbish frequently yields valuable finds in the shape of various small articles. One such chamber, uncovered by Layard, at Koyunjik, proved a perfect mine of treasures. The most curious relics were brought to light in it: quantities of studs and small rosettes in mother-of-pearl, ivory and metal, (such as were used to ornament the harness of the war-horses), bowls, cups and dishes of bronze,[F] besides caldrons, shields and other items of armor, even glass bowls, lastly fragments of a royal throne--possibly the very throne on which King Sennacherib sat to give audience or pronounce judgments, for the palace at Koyunjik where these objects were found was built by that monarch so long familiar to us only from the Bible, and the sculptures and inscriptions which cover its walls are the annals of his conquests abroad and his rule at home. [Illustration: 4.--MOUND OF BABIL. (RUINS OF BABYLON.) (Oppert.)] A description of the removal of the colossal bulls and lions which were shipped to England and now are safely housed in the British Museum, ought by rights to form the close of a chapter devoted to "Layard and his work." But the reference must suffice; the vivid and entertaining narrative should be read in the original, as the passages are too long for transcription, and would be marred by quoting. [Illustration 5.--BRONZE DISH.] FOOTNOTES: [C] "Nineveh and its Remains," and "Discoveries in Nineveh and Babylon." [D] Rawlinson's "Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient World," Vol. I., Chap. II. [E] See Figure 15, on p. 53. [F] See Figures 5, 6, and 7. III. THE RUINS. "And they said to one another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone and slime for mortar."--_Gen._ xi. 3.