Assyrian discoveries : an account of explorations and discoveries on the site of Nineveh, during 1873 and 1874.

Front matter

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Preface

HE following work was written to give in = a permanent form some account of the 5 excavations undertaken in 1873 and 1874 Sk Ss Z5 on the site of Nineveh; and the principal discoveries which have resulted from these operations. The honour of having started this enterprise belongs . to the proprietors of the ‘“ Daily Telegraph” news- - paper, and at the close of the first expedition they presented the firman and excavating plant to the trustees of the British Museum to facilitate the renewal of the work. The second expedition was only to take advantage of the remainder of the time allowed by the firman, and I was directed to close the excavations within the period allowed by the concession of the Porte.

I have been working in the territory of the Turkish empire, and it is with regret that I have had to mention the unsatisfactory conduct of many of its agents. I have not made the most of this; J have

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omitted many incidents, of bad conduct, and have stated those I have mentioned as moderately and slightly as possible; but I could not have passed the subject over entirely without falsifying my narrative. I have not the smallest doubt that in the government of Asia the Turks are not alive to their own interests, and particularly in the oppressive laws and persecution — of the Christians. The American missions in Asiatic Turkey are doing a noble work in the country, but they can only be useful in proportion to the amount of official support they receive from England and America.

In the body of my work I have acknowledged the assistance I received from several gentlemen, official and private, in my expeditions. To these I must add the name of M. Péretié, the French consul at Mosul, _who was of great assistance to me in my dealings with the Turkish officials, and took as much interest in my affairs as if I had been a fellow-subject with himself. The presence of M. Péretié at Mosul, and lis generous attention to British interests, makes the want of a British consul less felt; but it is extremely unfortunate that in the wide extent of country between Aleppo and Baghdad there is not a single British representative.

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Contents

-HAPTER J.—Former Excavations anp Drsco- 7) -verres IN THE VALLEY oF THE EuPHRATES AND TIGRIS.

Interest of subject. — Botta’s excavations. —

Layard’s works.—Rawlinson.—Hormuzd Rassam.—