. Travels and researches in Chaldæa and Susiana; with an account of excavations at Warka, the "Erech" of Nimrod, and Shúsh, "Shushan the Palace" of Esther, in 1849-52 .. . it is considered that immediately afterthe above occurrence, a series of misfortunes befell theprovince— the plains were depopulated by the plague,the bridge of Shuster suddenly broke, and the famousdam at Hawlza was carried away; all which disasterswere, of course, ascribed to the destruction of the tahs-man.^t Hence it was that such a feeling of hostility andsuspicion attended all visits of Em^opeans to Susa. In order to p
. Travels and researches in Chaldæa and Susiana; with an account of excavations at Warka, the "Erech" of Nimrod, and Shúsh, "Shushan the Palace" of Esther, in 1849-52 .. . it is considered that immediately afterthe above occurrence, a series of misfortunes befell theprovince— the plains were depopulated by the plague,the bridge of Shuster suddenly broke, and the famousdam at Hawlza was carried away; all which disasterswere, of course, ascribed to the destruction of the tahs-man.^t Hence it was that such a feeling of hostility andsuspicion attended all visits of Em^opeans to Susa. In order to preserve the fragments intact, they werecollected together and secretly built into a pillar in theveranda of the tomb. This wonderful relic is described * Sir William Ouseleys Travels in Various Countries, vol. i., p. Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, vol. ix., p. 69. ITS DESCRIPTION. 419 to tave been twenty-two inches long and twelve incliesbroad. Sheikh Mohammed voluntarily gave me anaccount of it, and his description perfectly agrees withthe sketch made by Captain Monteith. He said that onone side were figures of the sun, moon, stars, birds, and. The Black Stone. Other objects, which he understood were representationsof the gods (or rather sacred emblems) whom the people * The above Moodcut is a copy of that published from General in Walpoles « Travels in Turkey, vol. n., p. 426. 420 ATTEMPT TO GAIN POSSESSION. of Sliush formerly worsliipped ; and that on another sidewas writing, while the remaining two faces of the blockwere defaced. The above was, I believe, the import ofthe black stone ; but, as the cuneiform record had notbeen carefully copied, it was desirable that I should obtaina cast from it, if it were found impracticable to obtainpossession of the original. As any direct suspicion of my object would have com-promised the prosecution of the general excavations, andplaced me in considerable personal jeopardy, I took carenever to vis
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