Preparations for leaving Nineveh.--Departure for Babylon.-- Descent of the River.--Tekrit.--The State of the Rivers of Mesopotamia.--Commerce upon them.--Turkish Roads.--The Plain of Dura.--The Naharwan.--Samarrah.--Kadesia.--Palm Groves.-- Kathimain.--Approach to Baghdad.--The City.--Arrival.--Dr. Ross.--A British Steamer.--Modern Baghdad.--Tel Mohammed.-- Departure for Babylon.--A Persian Prince.--Abde Pasha's Camp.--Eastern Falconry.--Hawking the Gazelle.--Approach to Babylon.--The Ruins.--Arrival at Hillah 372 CHAPTER XXII. The Chiefs of Hillah.--Present of Lions.--The Son of the Governor.--Description of the Town.--Zaid.--The Ruins of Babylon.--Changes in the Course of the Euphrates.--The Walls.-- Visit to the Birs Nimroud.--Description of the Ruin.--View from it.--Excavations and Discoveries in the Mound of Babel.--In the Mujelibé or Kasr.--The Tree Athelé.--Excavations in the Ruin of Amran.--Bowls, with Inscriptions in Hebrew and Syriac Characters.--The Jews of Babylonia 392 CHAPTER XXIII. State of the Ruins of Babylon.--Cause of the Disappearance of Buildings.--Nature of original Edifices.--Babylonian Bricks.-- The History of Babylon.--Its Fall.--Its Remarkable Position.-- Commerce.--Canals and Roads.--Skill of Babylonians in the Arts.--Engraved Gems.--Corruption of Manners, and consequent Fall of the City.--The Mecca Pilgrimage.--Sheikh Ibn Reshid.-- The Gebel Shammar.--The Mounds of El Hymer--of Anana 419 CHAPTER XXIV. Ruins in Southern Mesopotamia.--Departure from Hillah.-- Sand-Hills.--Villages in the Jezireh.--Sheikh Karboul.-- Ruins.--First View of Niffer.--The Marshes.--Arab Boats.-- Arrive at Souk-el-Afaij.--Sheikh Agab.--Town of the Afaij.-- Description of the Ruins of Niffer.--Excavations in the Mounds.--Discovery of Coffins--of various Relics.--Mr. Loftus' Discoveries at Wurka.--The Arab Tribes.--Wild Beasts.--Lions.-- Customs of the Afaij.--Leave the Marshes.--Return to Baghdad.-- A Mirage 437 CHAPTER XXV. Preparations for Departure.--Sahiman.--Plunder of his Camels.-- Leave Baghdad.--Journey through Mesopotamia.--Early Arab Remains.--The Median Wall.--Tekrit.--Horses stolen.--Instances of Bedouin Honesty.--Excavations at Kalah Sherghat.--Reach Mosul.--Discoveries during Absence.--New Chambers at Kouyunjik.--Description of Bas-reliefs.--Extent of the Ruins explored.--Bases of Pillars.--Small objects.--Roman Coins struck at Nineveh.--Hoard of Denarii.--Greek Relics.--Absence of Assyrian Tombs.--Fragment with Egyptian Characters.-- Assyrian Relics.--Remains beneath the Tomb of Jonah.-- Discoveries at Shereef-Khan--at Nimroud.--Assyrian Weights.-- Engraved Cylinders 463 CHAPTER XXVI.