70 THE LANDS OF THE TIGRIS. 



CHAPTER YII. 



THE LANDS OF THE TIGRIS. 



Curiosity concerning the past — Collections of ancient records — Time the 

 destroyer — Koyunjik and Nebi Yunus — Nimrud — The Germans at 

 Babylon— Mossul — Down the Tigris on a raft— A useful escort ! — 

 Samara and its objects of pilgrimage — The Malwiyeh — Latent wealth 

 of the lands of the Tigris — Sir William Willcock's scheme — British 

 Government must interest themselves — Chaldsea described by Hero- 

 dotus— Eeach Baghdad— The romance of Baghdad is of the past — A 

 ffufa — Described by Herodotus — Baghdad a commercial centre — 

 Shortcomings of the Turkish Government — Fate of a public benefactor 

 — Trade of Baghdad — Lack of transport— Extraordinary rates of 

 freight — Great Britain must control the country from Baghdad to 

 the Persian Gulf. 



There is deep down in the soul of man an intense 

 curiosity concerning the past. He reads history and 

 revels in the deeds of men and nations that are g-one. 

 But this is not enough. To the student of antiquity 

 history as we know it is the story of modern times. 

 Before the dawn of history, what then? Who were 

 they who dwelt in the earth in those remote times still 

 hidden beneath the veil of oblivion, or appearing but 

 dimly through the hazy light of confused tradition? 

 Whence came they, of what stock, who was there 

 before them? and if we probe the question to the 

 bottom, what was the origin of man ? After the ques- 

 tion " Why am I here ? " there is probably none that 



