ANTIQUITIES. 4 25 
whole of the baetyli I have seen are all pierced for wearing in 
this way. It is not unlikely that the deity represented on this 
cylinder, No. 1. may be a figure of the god Baal or Belus, set up 
by Nebuchadnezzar; and it may also shew the regal habit of 
the sovereigns of Nineveh and Babylon. 
No. 2. is a seal, cut on a piece of red pebble. It is drilled 
through the top. Running up one of its sides, appear several 
cuneiform characters; and on the face of another, a dog is 
beautifully cut. The form and position of this animal are quite 
the same as the little bronze dog I found also in Babylon. The 
impression of the seal contains the figure of a man grasping a 
bird, of a goose shape, by the neck. Many similar seals are 
dug up amongst the ruins : I have another, in agate, of a man, 
and some symbolical forms. The specimens of baked clay, 
already described as having been stamped with numerous seals, 
are sufficient evidence how common were their use; their im¬ 
port can only be guessed, but it is likely all were connected with 
mystic incantation. 
No. 3. is a small baked clay figure of a woman, with a child; 
both are in a very simple and natural taste. It measures about 
three inches and a half high, and has the marks of having once 
been covered with a glazing in colours. It is in the possession 
of Mr. Rich. No. 4. represents a couple of curious figures, of 
the same size with the originals, which are bronze, and would 
seem to have formed the top of a small staff; one of them is a 
monster, with a head like a tiger. 
Having visited all that circumstances would allow, on both 
sides of the two great rivers, I prepared for a journey into the 
indeed primeval wilds of nature; the mountainous regions of 
Courdistan, which have been the allodial property of the same 
O T 
O I 
VOL. II. 
