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

DURING 19TB CENTURY: ASSYRIA AND BABYLONIA 323
share in our work, the 'Afej could not always be trusted.
They all wanted to guard the rare " goose that laid the
golden egg," and soon became jealous of the Nozair chief,
who had pledged himself for the security of the party.
" Fabulous stories of our immense wealth were in circulation.
Everything was supposed to contain money, even
our boxes of provisions." " The Arabs believed that we
were digging out great treasures, and it was confidently
asserted that we had secured the golden boat, or turrada}
which from time immemorial had been supposed to be contained
in these mounds." The mere sight of a gold crown
on one of Peters' teeth, which was eagerly pointed out by
those who had discovered it to every friend and newcomer,
seemed to strengthen their conviction and excite their lust.
The comparative ease with which in the previous year so
much spoil had been carried off through Mukota's treacherous
behavior, aroused the cupidity of all the Arabs and
their ardent desire to repeat his example. The presence of
two hundred workmen from Hilla and Jumjuma, who could
not always be managed to keep peace with one another, was
regarded by the'Afej shaikhs as an affront intended to diminish
their personal income, since they were entitled to one
sixth of the wages received by their own tribesmen.
Besides,
murderers and other desperadoes, who had fled from various
parts of the country to the safer districts of the Khor el-'Afej,
were never lacking, and were always ready to join in a conspiracy
which would lead to stealing and burning, and thus
raise their importance in the eyes of the people. In spite
of the friendly assurances from the Arabs, there prevailed
a general sense of insecurity all the while around Nuffar,
which, indeed, is the atmosphere more or less characteristic
of all modern Babylonia.
Fortunately, however, there was one circumstance which
proved of priceless value to the members of the expedition
1
Comp. Layard, "Nineveh and Babylon," London, 1853, p. 557.