'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in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon.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.' [‎116] (204/474)

116
ON THE TOPOGRAPHY OF
to prove that the mound must have been artificial;
for the quantity of rain-water that could possibly fall
on so limited a space as the area of the mound^
would not have worn away a natural hill in so great
a degree.*
Little more, therefore, need be said in respect of
the probability of this venerable ruin being the
Tower of Belus ; of a date possibly that may remount
almost to the earliest period of post-diluvian history.
But although Mr. Rich's description affords full
conviction, our curiosity is by no means yet satisfied.
It is very possible that a part of the remains of
the external walling now seen may be of a date
long subsequent to that of the erection of the Tower.
The semicircular mound of earth, described by Mr.
Rich (page 58), and which embraces the principal
remains, within a diameter of about 2i miles, appears
to have been the rampart of a Babylon, of
reduced dimensions, but of whose history we know
nothing. It may clearly be seen by the Flan and
description (p. 17), that the termination of this ram
part, northward, pointsdrectly the south
eastern angle of the Mujelibe, (and appears to have
actually joined it, according to Mr. Rich's account,)
thus making it serve the purpose of a
* It must certainly be taken into the account, that the ground ad-
jacent to this ruin must have been raised by the matter washed down
from it by the rain; particularly on the west side. Yet the south
east angle is still more than 140 feet above the plain. The height of
the other parts we are not told. Much more is required to be known
concerning it.