ON THE GARDEN OF EDEN. 23 
Akkadian name of Mugheir is given as Urima (or Uriwa), and 
that the Hebrew form ought to show some traces of the ending 
-ima or -iwa—we ought to have at least Uri instead of the simple 
Ur. The Assyrian form of the name Mugheir is Uru (Uri), and, 
as an adjective (‘‘ Urite”) Uri, fem. Uritum. It may be objected 
that the Hebrew form is borrowed from the Assyrian weakened 
one, and that, as the final vowel is not long, except in the adjective 
form, it may have disappeared. This, however, would depend upon 
whether the Semitic population of Mesopotamia regarded it as 
radical or not, and that they did so regard it is implied by the 
presence of the vowel 7 (Uritwm) in the feminine form, which 
would otherwise have been Urtum. These facts are at least worth 
considering. (Applause.) 
Mr. W. St. C. Boscawen.—I had the pleasure of reading the 
paper through a little while ago, but I am afraid I cannot agree 
with all of it. My own opinion is that I do not think we shall 
ever fix the position of the Garden of Eden; there are so many 
traditions about it, the oldest concrete tradition being in connection 
with Babylonia, where we have indications of two of the rivers. 
With regard to the other two rivers I behold strongly with 
Professor Delitzsch. At the time he was writing his book he and 
I both worked on the subject, and [ cannot but agree with his con- 
clusions. With regard to the city of Abraham I must again differ 
from Mr. Rassam ; I think the evidence is strong that Mugheir was 
one of the earliest settlements in Babylonia. As to the location 
of the Garden of Eden there are traditions concerning it in India 
Persia, and elsewhere. 
Mr. G. Bertin.—Mr. Rassam has brought forward so many 
points that it would be difficult for me to discuss them all, on some 
it is possible I might differ from him, but his paper is very 
interesting and of great value, being written by one who knows 
the country, for, as Mr. Rassam has said, most of us study these 
questions out of books and can be easily misled, whereas he can 
bring his practical knowledge and experience to bear upon the 
subjects on which he writes. 
The Honorary Secrerary (Uaptain F. Perrir, F.G.S.)—I 
am somewhat anxious that we should not lose sight of one fact 
to which Mr. Rassam has alluded, namely, that his paper was not 
written with the intention of- introducing a new theory regarding 
the site of the Eden of the Bible, but rather of proving where it 
