Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

DURING IQth CENTURY: ASSYRIA AND BABYLONIA 217
occupation to fill out the ample time left him by the slight
duties of his consular position. Being stationed near the
ruins of some of the great centres of ancient civilization,
he
decided at once to visit the sites of Babylon and El-Birs,
and to devote his leisure hours, if practicable, to the exploration
of a section of Southern Babylonia.
He was very fortunate to find a trustworthy councillor in
J. Asfar, a prominent native Christian, and the present
hospitable representative of the Strick-Asfar line of steamboats
plying regularly between London and Basra. The
latter had formerly dealt in antiquities and was personally
acquainted with several Arab diggers, who continued
to keep him well
informed as to the most promising ruins
between the Euphrates and the Tigris. The name of
Tello had recentlv become a watchword among them in
consequence of the discovery of inscribed bricks and cones
and the partlv inscribed
torso of a fine statue of Gudea in
diorite, 1 said to have come from these ruins. 2 It is Asfar's
merit to have first directed the attention of De Sarzec to
this remarkable site and to have urged him to lose no time
in examining it more closely and in securing it for France. 3
In order to avoid undesirable public attention, the French
vice-consul deemed it wise for the present not to apply for
the necessary firman at Constantinople, but to begin his
1
Published by Lenormant, Choix de Textes Cuneiforms in'edits, Paris,
1873-75, p. 5, no. 3, and in George Smith, "History of Babylonia,"
edited by A. H. Sayce, London, 1877.
2
No sufficient reasons have been brought forward, however, to show that
this torso actually came from Tello. Mr. Leonard W. King, of the British
Museum, whom I asked for information as to its place of origin, was unable,
to throw any light on this question. Comp. p. 221, note 1, below.
3 For valuable information as to the immediate causes which led to De
Sarzec' s great discovery, I am obliged to his friend, Mr. Asfar, who had
preserved his deep interest in Babylonian excavations as late as 1900, when
the present writer spent nearly three weeks at Basra and its neighborhood,
frequently enjoying his unbounded hospitality.