210 
gat was Tickreet, a dirty Arab town about halfway between the 
former place and Baghdad. After I had spent about three 
days at the latter place, and arranged everything for my expe- 
dition to Babylon, I started thitherward, and reached the site 
of that famous ancient city in about eighteen hours' ride, only 
resting one night on the journey. The first object that 
attracts the traveller's notice on approaching Babylon is a 
remarkably high mound at the extreme northern border of it, 
called erroneously by Rich, Imjaileeba, but by the natives of 
the country (< Babel." I, myself, believe this to be the site 
of “ the hanging gardens," and in riding into Ilillah through 
Babylon it is skirted on the western side. 
THE RUINS OF BABYLON 
