The thrones and palaces of Babylon and Ninevah from sea to sea; a thousand miles on horseback .. . bridge; at the opposite end is a pretty marl:)le kiosk,from beneath which the waters flow; on the south sideare green lawns, and gardens of flowers, and groves ofthe white mulberry, the tall and sombre cypress, thedrooping willow, the bright oleander, the lofty syca-more, and the shady fig and pomegranate. From outthe grove rises a mosque, and above the mosque towersa graceful minaret. On the opposite side is a well-pavedcauseway for promenades, whose very edge is washed bythe wateis of the lake.
The thrones and palaces of Babylon and Ninevah from sea to sea; a thousand miles on horseback .. . bridge; at the opposite end is a pretty marl:)le kiosk,from beneath which the waters flow; on the south sideare green lawns, and gardens of flowers, and groves ofthe white mulberry, the tall and sombre cypress, thedrooping willow, the bright oleander, the lofty syca-more, and the shady fig and pomegranate. From outthe grove rises a mosque, and above the mosque towersa graceful minaret. On the opposite side is a well-pavedcauseway for promenades, whose very edge is washed bythe wateis of the lake. Above this noble path is thegrand facade of the Mosque of Abraham, Avhose name it BABYLON AND NINEVEH. 433 bears. This mail)le mosqne is crowned with three domesof equal size, surmounted with gilded crescents, and alofty minaret, springing up from amidst a cluster of talland solemn cypress-trees. Within the sacred inclosure,silver lamps, filled with the choicest olive-oil, burn nightand day in honor of the Father of the Faitliful. Thesylvan lake is filled with fine carp, to the number of not. Abrahams mosque and pool. less than twenty thousand. They are sacredly calledAbrahams fish, the descendants of those cherished bythe patriarch. As the water in which they swim isbeautifully transparent, they are seen to good advan-tage ; and, as they are not allowed to be caught or iiiany way molested, they multiply exceedingly. It isdeemed an act of piety to feed them; it is considered a 28 434 THRONES AND PALACES OF crime to eat them. To prevent any person from catch-ing these fish, the Moslems have invented the supersti-tion that he who purloins from the sacred waters willbe smitten with idiotcy. But the Christians of Orfahhave such a reverence for Abraham that they are neverso happy as when they can feast on a dish of his fish,cooked with wine-sauce, and eaten as a royal dainty. From this enchanted spot, where turbaned Turks andveiled women repose in the music of its waters, and be-ne
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbabylon, bookyear1876
