Skip to item: of 474
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎102] (188/474)

The record is made up of 1 volume (324 pages). It was created in 1839. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

MEMOIR ON THE RUINS
believe it is Diodorus alone who asserts that bitumen
flows out of the ground at Babylon. Herodotus
positively says it was brought from Heet, and Strabo,
generally, that it is produced in Babylonia. I was
unable to discover any traces of it in the vicinity of
Hillah, except on the testimony of a Jew, who told
me he believed it might be found in the Desert. It
is at present used for caulking boats, coating cisterns,
baths, and other places that are to remain in contact
with water. The fragments of it scattered over the
ruins of Babylon are black, shining, and brittle,
somewhat resembling pit-coal in substance and ap
pearance ; the Turks call it Zift, and the Arabs,
Kier or Geer (jjj )•
There are three kinds of calcareous earth found
in most situations in the western desert between Ba
bylon, Heet, and Ana. The first is called
and is a white powder particularly abundant at Heet
and Ana. Mixed with ashes it is used as a coating
for the lower parts of walls, in baths and other places
liable to damps. The second is also found in powder,
mixed with indurated pieces of the same substance,
and round pebbles ; it is called by the Turks
and by the Arabs Jus ; it is very plentiful between
Hillah and Felugiah, is the common cement of the
country, and composes the mortar which is found in
the ruins of Babylon. The third species, called
Borak, is a substance resembling gypsum, and is
found in large craggy lumps of an earthy appearance
externally, but being burnt it forms an excellent

About this item

Content

Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad , by Claudius James Rich.

Publication details: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Duke-street, Stamford Street, London. Published by Duncan and Malcolm, Paternoster Row, MDCCCXXXIX [1839].

Physical description: Includes plates, illustrations, plan; octavo.

Extent and format
1 volume (324 pages)
Arrangement

The volume contains a table of contents with chapter headings with page references (pp xi-xv). Each chapter heading is followed by a detailed breakdown of the contents of that chapter. There is a list of illustrations (p xvi) with facing page references.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions: 220mm x 135mm.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎102] (188/474), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOL.1947.a.2083., in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024137247.0x0000bd> [accessed 22 March 2025]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024137247.0x0000bd">'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [&lrm;102] (188/474)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100024137247.0x0000bd">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100023516761.0x000001/IOL.1947.a.2083._0189.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100023516761.0x000001/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image