'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎43] (70/450)

CH. XIII.] WALLS NINEVEH. 43
remarking on my way several stones whicli liad been
dug out of the wall or elevation under which the
well is situated, between it and the inclosure wall.
Most of these stones seem to be of the same kind,
that is, a coarser kind ol Mousul marble or gypsum,
of a grey colour*. I also observed sandstone cut
into blocks. Most of the stones dug up were of
enormous dimensions.
Between the two walls the ground is ploughed
in many places, and I wondered to see how they
ploughed ground which seems to consist almost
entirely of loose pebbles; but I believe such ground
is the best for all plants of the melon kind.
We arrived at the east boundary wall by the
Kermelis road, which passes close by the well. The
wall on the north side of the road rises into two high
mounts, the southernmost of which is the one which
I set with the compass from several stations. A little
way up it I saw an immense stone, or rather slab,
with bitumen adhering to the underside of it, which
had just been dug up out of the mount.
While I was employed in taking angles, the
Seyd, with Hussein Aga, went into the village of
Nebbi Yunus, where they discovered a square stone
or slab, covered with a cuneiform inscription which
was extremely perfect. This was in the wall of
* The natives distinguish between this and the gypsum, calling
the gypsum heilany or hhallan, and the other from Mousul, mer-