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

DURING 19TB CENTURY: ASSYRIA AND BABYLONIA 45
After extensive travels through Georgia and Persia, in
the course of which the great monuments of Naqs-i-Rustam
and Persepolis had received his special attention, Porter
arrived at Baghdad in October, 1 8 1 8. About two years
previously Buckingham had visited the same region, though
by reason of peculiar circumstances ' the latter's work could
not be published until eleven years later. Compared with
the clear statements and sober facts presented by his predecessors,
Porter's book is sometimes deficient in definite
information, — pious meditations and personal speculations
occasionally becoming the undesirable substitutes for an
intelligent description, judicial discrimination, and logical
reasoning. Yet, with all these defects, due less to his lack
of good will and personal devotion than to his unfamiliarity
with the Oriental languages and the absence of a proper
technical training, Porter will always hold his distinct place
in the history of Babylonian exploration.
During the six weeks which he spent under the inspiring
influence of Rich at the British Residency in Baghdad, he
examined the four Babylonian ruins at that time standing
in the centre of public interest : 'Aqarquf, El-Birs, Babil,
and El-Ohemir. As in the case of Buckingham, Bellino
became his regular companion on his excursions to the
ruins just mentioned. What his description of 'Aqarquf
lacks in new elements and successful combination is made
good by the four excellent drawings which he has left us
of the four different sides of that conspicuous landmark at
the northern boundary of ancient Babylonia. Of interest
also is his remark as to the original purpose of the ruin in
question, as coming nearer to the truth than that of any
previous traveller :
" I should suppose the mass we now
1
Arising from the scandalous and malicious accusations of Buckingham's
former travelling companion, W. J. Bankes, who in the most contemptible
manner prevented the publication of his book, at the same time endeavoring
to ruin the literary character of the author, as he had ruined him socially and
financially in India,,
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