burnt and unburnt bricks and bitumen." In some parts remains of walls may be traced; but, in general, only mounds of rubbish, destitute of verdure. Those most considerable are on the eastern side of the Euphrates, and not far from the river, called the Mujelibé, the Amram, and the Kasr. The walls of the latter are firmly built. It is considered to be the remains of a part of the palace, and contains vast quantities of burned bricks, laid in lime mortar; the removal of large portions of them has rendered this mound a confused mass, in which are found many remains of earthen and other vessels, and some sepulchral urns, considered to be of Grecian origin. În one place, by digging into the mass, a colossal statue of a lion, of rude workmanship, was brought to view. The Kasr is an irregular square, about seven hundred yards on each side, and about seventy feet high. Its appearance is much altered, even within the last few years, since it was seen by Rich, a quantity of bricks having been removed from it. Most of these bricks have unknown characters on their faces, which are invariably placed downwards. Sir R. K. Porter considers the Kasr contains the remains of the hanging gardens. The Amram is a mound about half a mile to the south of the Kasr, rather larger than that pile. It is an irregular heap of earth, with fragments of bricks and pottery. Porter considers that the foundations of the great palace are under this mass; and that a mound which connects it with the Kasr, originally once formed a terraced avenue between these structures. The Mujelibé is an oblong square, about five hundred and fifty feet one way, and two hundred and thirty the other, and one hundred and forty feet in height. It is formed of sun-dried bricks, cemented by bitumen, with layers of reeds; regular lines of brickwork being visible on each face of the pile. Remains of buildings may be traced on the top. It seems to have been a lofty platform, with passages and chambers, once crowned with various structures, a usual form of the most considerable THE BIRS NEMROUD. 139 eastern palaces. On one side, a gallery was found, containing skeletons in wooden coffins; the Babylonian method of interment. Porter considers this ruin may be the remains of the fortified palace. On the western side of the river, about six miles from the bank, beyond the limits of our plan, in the south-western direction from Hillah, is the vast pile called Birs Nemroud, supposed to be the remains of the pyramid or temple of Belus, probably of the tower of Babel. It appears to have been built in stages, or stories, diminishing towards the top. The height from the plain to the summit of the brick wall, represented in the annexed engraving, is two hundred and thirtyfive feet, in which Buckingham thought that he traced four stages or stories. From its appearance, the upper part of the Birs Nemroud seems to have been broken down by violence, and to show traces of fire having been applied to it; though Rich considers it not easy to say in what manner. Large masses of vitrified brick are on the summit. It literally appears to be a burned mountain, but only in the upper part. Some conjecture that these burned masses form parts of the upper towers, and that it was overthrown, being struck by fire from heaven. It is certain, that no earthly heat, but that of a very intense furnace, could have had the effect; and it is not easy to conceive how such heat could be made to act on these elevated masses of wall, while the lower parts of the ruins do not present any such appearance. The bricks of this tower are mostly stamped with the ancient square character. Porter, when at a distance, observed some dark objects moving along the summit of the hill; on examining them with his glass, they were found to be lions, whose dens were in the cavities of the mound. What shapeless form, half lost on high, And watch from Babel's crumbling heap, |