* The _Donation to Shamud and Shamaî_ informs us that Nebuchadrezzar “took the hands of Bel” as soon as he regained possession of the statue. The copy we possess of the Royal Canon. Nebuchadrezzar I.’s place in the series has, therefore, been the subject of much controversy. Several Assyriologists were from the first inclined to place him in the first or second rank, some being in favour of the first, others preferring the second; Dolitzsch put him into the fifth place, and Winckler, without pronouncing definitely on the position to be assigned him, thought he must come in about half-way down the dynasty. Hilprecht, on taking up the questions, adduced reasons for supposing him to have been the founder of the dynasty, and his conclusions have been adopted by Oppert; they have been disputed by Tiele, who wishes to put the king back to fourth or fifth in order, and by Winckler, who places him fourth or fifth. It is difficult, however, to accept Hilprecht’s hypothesis, plausible though it is, so long as Assyriologists who have seen the original tablet agree in declaring that the name of the first king began with the sign of _Merodach_ and not with that of _Nebo_, as it ought to do, were this prince really our Nebuchadrezzar. Nebuchadrezzar arose “in Babylon,--roaring like a lion, even as Bammân roareth,--and his chosen nobles, roared like lions with him.--To Merodach, lord of Babylon, rose his prayer:--‘How long, for me, shall there be sighing and groaning?--How long, for my land, weeping and mourning?--How long, for my countries, cries of grief and tears? Till what time, O lord of Babylon, wilt thou remain in hostile regions?--Let thy heart be softened, and make Babylon joyful,--and let thy face be turned toward Eshaggil which thou lovest!’” Merodach gave ear to the plaint of his servant: he answered him graciously and promised his aid. Namar, united as it had been with Chaldæa for centuries, did not readily become accustomed to its new masters. The greater part of the land belonged to a Semitic and Cossæan feudality, the heads of which, while admitting their suzerain’s right to exact military service from them, refused to acknowledge any further duty towards him. The kings of Susa declined to recognise their privileges: they subjected them to a poll-tax, levied the usual imposts on their estates, and forced them to maintain at their own expense the troops quartered on them for the purpose of guaranteeing their obedience.* * Shamuà and Shamaî “fled in like manner towards Karduniash, before the King of Elam;” it would seem that Rittimerodach had entered into secret negotiations with Nebuchadrezzar, though this is nowhere explicitly stated in the text.