342 
RUINS OF BABYLON. 
of the same would inclose the edifices its ample area had been 
planned to contain. That it has been occupied by various build¬ 
ings, is sufficiently proved by the fragments of such, covering the 
whole wide surface. Several deep excavations have been made, 
in different places, into the sides of the mound; some, probably, 
by the wearing of the seasons, according to the effects described 
above; but many others have been dug by the rapacity of the 
Turks, tearing up its bowels in search of hidden treasure. Se¬ 
veral penetrate very far into the body of the structure, making 
angular turnings ; and some, it is likely, have never yet been 
explored, the wild beasts of the desert literally keeping guard 
over them. In short, these souterains, over which the chambers 
of majesty may have been spread, are now the refuge of jackalls 
and other savage animals. The mouths of their entrances are 
strewed with the bones of sheep and goats ; and the loathesome 
smell that issues from most of them is sufficient warning not to 
proceed into the den. However, into some of those which ex¬ 
hibited the fewest of these signals, I ventured to go a little way. 
One in particular excited my attention : it was in the northern 
face of the mound, near the west corner ; and on examining it, 
I found it to be the same in which Mr. Rich, during his re¬ 
searches, discovered a wooden sarcophagus. His own interesting 
description shall speak for itself. 
“ In the northern face of the Mujelibe, near the summit, is a 
niche or recess, high enough for a man to stand upright in ; at 
the back of which is a low aperture leading to a small cavity; 
whence a passage branches off to the right, sloping upwards in 
a western direction till it loses itself in the rubbish. The natives 
call this the sardaub, or cellar; and a respectable person in¬ 
formed me, that four years ago, some men searching for bricks, 
