"سرد لرحلة إلى موقع مدينة بابل في ١٨١١، طُبعت الآن لأول مرة: مذكرات على الأطلال؛ مع نقوش من الخرائط المدبئية للمؤلف: ملاحظات على طبوغرافية بابل القديمة،بقلم الرائد رينيل؛ في إشارة إلى المذكرات: مذكرات ثانية على الأطلال؛ في إشارة إلى ملاحظات الرائد رينيل: مع سرد لرحلة إلى برسبوليس: طُبعت الآن لأول مرة، مع كتابات مسمارية نسخت في برسبوليس ولم تُنشر من قبل: كتبها الراحل كلوديوس جيمس ريتش، المحترم، المقيم البريطاني السابق لشركة الهند الشرقية في بغداد. حررته أرملته." [‎١‎٤] (٤٧٤/٤١)

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INTRODUCTION.
ripened. This fertilization does not take place, as in
Egypt, by the river overflowing the fields, but the
lands are irrigated by the hand or by pumps; for
the whole region of Babylonia is, like Egypt, every
where intersected by canals. The largest of these
canals is navigable, and, turning towards the south
east, connects the Euphrates with another river, the
Tigris, on which Nineveh stood. This region is, of
all lands we know, the richest in the gifts of Ceres ;
but it does not afford any produce from such trees
as the fig, the vine, or the olive. Yet so favourable
is the soil to the growth of corn, that it ordinarily
yields two hundred fold, and sometimes three hun
dred. The leaves both of the wheat and barley in
this region are four fingers broad. As for millet
and sesame (Indian corn), the plant becomes a tree
of such magnitude, that, though I have personal
knowledge of the fact, I forbear to mention its size,
feeling assured that to those who have never visited
the province of Babylonia, what I have already said
of its produce will appear incredible. They use no
oil, except that which is made from sesame. Palm-
trees grow throughout the plain, which for most part
bear fruit, and from this fruit is prepared a kind of
bread, as well as wine and honey."
Having thus it is hoped given the reader some
idea ot Babylon, during the time of her prosperity,
it may be well to begin the description of her decay,
with some of those passages in Scripture where it
had long been foretold :—