'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in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon.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.' [‎318] (461/474)

318
APPENDIX.
[NO. XII.
should have doubted very much whether this potent and
powerful city (which once was the most stately and famous
one of the world, situated in the pleasant and fruitful
country of Sinar) did stand there, if I should not have
known it by its situation, and several ancient and delicate
antiquities that still are standing hereabouts, in great deso
lation. First, by the old bridge which was laid over the
Euphrates (which also is called Sud by the prophet
Baruch, in his first chapter), whereof there are some pieces
and arches still remaining, and to be seen this very day a
little above where we landed. These arches are built of
burnt bricks, and so strong that it is admirable ; because all
along the river from Bir, where the river is a great deal
smaller, we saw never a bridge. The river is here at least
half a league broad, and very deep. Near the bridge are
several heaps of Babylonian pitch, to pitch ships. Some
thing further, just before the village Elugo, is the hill
whereon the castle did stand, in a plain, whereon you may
still see some ruins of the fortification, which is quite de
molished and uninhabited: behind it, pretty near to it, did
stand the tower of Babylon. This we see still, and it is
half a league in diameter; but it is so ruined and full of
vermin^ that one may not come near it within half a mile,
except in two winter months, w T hen they come not out
of their holes."— {page 174.)
" From this tower, two leagues distant eastward, lieth the
strong town Fraxt, which was formerly called Apamea,
mentioned by Pliny (Book vi. chap. 20 and 27), between
the Tigris and Euphrates, which two rivers, not far below,
are united.
" October 26^A.—Early in the morning, with camels
and asses to carry our goods, we set out for Bagdad. In
the beginning the ways were very rough with the stones
and ruins; but after we passed the castle and town of