243 
of the ancient world, and opening out interesting ethnographical 
connexions. 
“ The question of the original home of the Akkadians is 
also affected thereby. Cappadocia has always been regarded 
as a country celebrated for its horses, and it is worthy of 
notice that the Akkadians nearly always call the horse by the 
name generally translated f animal of the east/ but a more 
natural translation would be ‘ animal of the country J ; and as 
it seems that the country north of Assyria was also called 
Akkad, as well as the northern part of Babylonia, the neigh- 
bourhood of Cappadocia as the home of the Akkadian race 
may be regarded as a very possible explanation, and the fact 
of the cuneiform characters being in use there would, therefore, 
be no mystery.” 
For the last two years we did not do much in Assyria in the 
way of new discoveries, on account of the antagonism of the 
Ottoman authorities, who have of late shown their unmistak- 
able antipathy to anything touching the interests of England. 
Some say that this estrangement was caused by the policy the 
British Government assumed in the matter of Dulcigno and 
Thessaly ; and others declare that some European intriguers 
have been at work to prevent us obtaining the renewal of our 
firman. However, let the case be as it may, it is to be hoped 
that the Sublime Porte will relent, and allow us to complete 
our researches in the sites we have already discovered, and in 
some of which we have been allowed to excave, off and on, 
under three successive Sultans for the last thirty-eight years. 
The Chairman (Eear- Admiral Henry D. Grant, C.B.). — I am sure I 
only speak the feeling of the meeting, in saying that we are unanimous in 
thanking Mr. Rassam for his very interesting paper. We should be glad to 
hear Dr. Delitzsch if he would kindly give us some of the results of his 
experience. 
Dr. Delitzsch. — All I can say is that we Assyriologists, and all who 
take an interest in Biblical research, cannot praise in terms too high the 
ability displayed by Mr. Rassam, and the results that have accrued to 
science by his persevering efforts in unravelling the history of mankind. 
The discoveries he has been enabled to make have been of the highest value 
to the student of Biblical history. I lay particular stress on his discovery 
of one of the most important Babylonian towns which we have looked for 
in vain for many centuries. The site of Babylon being known, it was not 
necessary to search for it. There were chiefly two Babylonian towns whose' 
discovery was urgently required : they were Ur and Sepharwaim, both 
mentioned in the Old Testament. Ur was at length discovered, but 
Sepharwaim seemed to be lost altogether ; yet it was a place most eagerly 
sought after, not only because it was the Sepharwaim of the Old Testament 
VOL. XVII : S 
