ISS^.] Ruins of the Tower of Bahel Discovered. 109 



my heart, will fairly tremble, if once it takes hold of the shovels, 

 the trowels, and the hods used by those old masons and builders. 



The village of Arbela, so famous in history for the decisive battle 

 fought near it by Darius and Alexander, is only a few days 

 journey from Mosul, to which Mr. Place, wearied with the monot- 

 onous wonders of Nineveh, set off with his accustomed enthusiasm, 

 in search of new discoveries, in a region celebrated in classical 

 history. On his way, an incident occurred which proves to what a 

 degree the statements of history, respecting the locality, are the sim- 

 ple truth. The escort of Mr. Place dismounted when they reached 

 the field of Arbela, following the example of the Consul, who wished 

 to study the battle field ; and this he was obliged to do standing, as 

 Turkish etiquette permits no one to remain seated in his saddle. 

 Soon, however, he mounted again, in order to scour the plain, and 

 the escort did the same, except a single Turk of enormous propor- 

 tions, who followed on foot, puffing and bathed in sweat. Mr. 

 Place pitying him for his sad plight, asked him if he did this be- 

 cause he preferred walking to riding. 



" By no means," replied the Turk, " but I am unable to remount 

 my horse, because I need the help of a stone in order to regain my 

 stirrup, and who can find a stone in all the plain of Gringarnella? " 



Now, it is well known that Darius employed 300,000 men for 

 many days, in leveling this plain and breaking whatever would in- 

 terpose an obstacle to his cavalry and chariots of war. In the cen- 

 ter of the old battle field of Arbela rises a hill of collossal dimensions, 

 whose object the party vainly conjectured, thinking it might be a 

 tomb or a triumphal monument, or more likely both. Unfortunate- 

 ly they had not time to examine it, nor the appliances necessary for 

 exploring it. 



Passing on, Mr. Place and his party at length discovered what 

 they believed to be nothing less than the veritable remains of the 

 Tower of Bahel — the wonder of wonders, and the grandest spectacle 

 which the eyes of men can contemplate in this age of the world. 

 This proud tower, which was built in defiance of Heaven, and aimed 

 to pierce the very skies, has lost, in the course of ages, its cloud 

 reaching elevation. Six of its eight stories have fallen and crumbled 

 into dust ; but the two which remain are so high that they may he 

 seen for fifty and sixty miles around. The base of the tower is quad- 

 rangular, and each side about six hundred feet long. The tower is 

 made of bricks of the purest clay, and of a white color, which is a 



