'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎430] (513/905)

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TOMBS OF THE KINGS.
[CHAP. XVIII.
Ancient Basin, by 50 paces wide. The first part of this opening is cut
through solid rock; and on each side are visible the remains
of defensive towers, partly excavated, together with the niches
in which the flood-gates had been suspended. The outer
portion curves north-west by west, and terminates with two
jetties, the southernmost of which is formed of huge blocks of
stone, secured with iron cramps ; and its remains may be seen
extending northward under water till they overlap the north
ern jetty. The latter, which is in a more ruinous state,
rather diverges from the former, in order to form an outer
basin for the galleys.
Ruins of But the chief remains are near the opposite side of the city,
where are the ruins of two temples, and an amphitheatre, the
latter partly natural, at the foot of the hill; also numerous
excavations, chiefly sepulchral, and many hundreds of sar
cophagi. The latter, together with the grottoes, extend nearly
f Sarcophagi.]
Ancientexca- two miles along the face of Jebel Musa, and up its ravines;
both of which are richly clothed with vines, pomegranates,
bay, clematis, the finest myrtles, honeysuckles, and other
shrubs. One portion of the excavations, called the Tombs of
the Kings, has a facade and suites of apartments, with columns
and stair-cases leading to a singular set of chambers above. In
some of the grottoes are the remains of paintings, with remark-
ably bright colours; in general, however, they are ordinary
excavations, without architectural ornaments, and many of
them appear to have been common troglodyte dwellings.