Letter from Rev. Dr. Smith on the Ruins of Nineveh. 119 
ing, these researches. ‘The number of rooms whose outlines 
were in a folerably good state of preservation was fifteen, but 
there were traces of others, as we shall hereafter mention. As 
the mound increased in heighth toward the centre, the upper part 
of the stones became more and more perfect, until they were 
found of their original size, and farther, the tops of these were in 
some places nearly or quite ten feet-below the surface of the 
mound, making the whole depth of the excavations in such places 
about twenty feet. In a few instances, however, these stone 
slabs were sixteen feet high, being made thus large to accom- 
modate the gigantic figures upon their surface. 
Although the writer feels that it is quite impossible by descrip- 
tion to convey an accurate idea of the sculptures found on these 
stones, yet, in the absence of drawings, he will use his best en- 
deavors to supply their place.* The largest bas-reliefs are of 
human form, about sixteen feet high. Between the left sides and 
suspended arms of these, lions are held dangling in the air, while 
serpents are grasped by the right hand, which hangs extended a 
little forwards. These figures are but few in number. The 
monsters by the doorway, already described, are the next in size, 
and others like them are found in several other similar situations. 
The surface of the whole remaining line of wall, is to a great 
extent covered with human figures nine feet high. These rep- 
resent kings, priests, manacled captives, soldiers armed with bows 
and quivers of arrows, and servants, some of whom are bearing 
presents to a king, while others have upon their shoulders a throne 
or chair of state. Where the figures are not of this large size, 
they are found in two rows, one above the other, and between 
the rows are inscriptions, generally about twenty inches broad, 
each inch representing a line of the writing. But we will leave the 
inscriptions for the present. The figures above and below them, are 
grouped together, as if to represent historical events. Some ten 
or more cities or castles are found represented in different rooms, 
and remote from each other, all undergoing the process of being 
beseiged, and the enemy without, in every case, triumphant. 
* Mons. Botta, in addition to many other favors, which the writer takes this 
opportunity to acknowledge, has been so kind as to furnish him with an accurate 
plan of these ruins, but as the insertion of it here would anticipate the volumes to 
be issued by the French government, it is deemed but a just regard to his generos- 
ity to withhold its publication. 
