Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... in the sun. Over this he wore a very light gauze-like white cloak, which scarcely clouded the splendour of the gold embroidery. A heavy silver sheath enclosed a bright curved scimitar, his late father's. His headdress was a light-coloured turban. "We now rode over the dangerous plain in perfect safety, for although the Arabs might have mustered a much stronger force, they would scarcely have thought it worth while to attack us, as they always prefer plunder without fighting, if possible." Safety was at last reached, and the Yezidee escort left them. They had entered a country of village Arabs, degenerate and dirty, but peaceable enough, and no further danger was to be anticipated. At Telkef they were met by Mr. Eassam, the British Vice-Consul, Hormuzd's brother, and, escorted by him, they approached the broad and rapid Tigris, and the city of Mosul. CHAPTER V. MESOPOTAMIA. The head-quarters of the party were fixed sometimes at Mosul and sometimes at Nimroud, and without loss of time Layard set to work continuing those excavations which he has himself minutely described, and of which the material fruit is now in the British Museum. His elaborate book, which deals both with the archaeological and the actual aspect of the Assyrian desert, has made it almost unnecessary for any second hand to go over the ground which he has reaped. At the same time there are details to be gathered from Sandwith's journal which Layard has ignored; and there is, besides, a freshness, an enthusiasm, an almost boyish delight in the new experiences of the wild life of the desert, which marks out the writing of the younger traveller from that of his companion and chief. Leaving unnoticed, then, the excavations themselves, and without attempting to tell the...
