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

52 EXPLORATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS
region adjoining the two rivers between Qorna and Babylon
on the one side, and Ctesiphon and Seleucia on the
other, needed a much closer investigation, before it could
lay claim to another title than that of a terra incognita.
Determined to prosecute his studies on a line different
from those previously followed, Mignan decided to proceed
on foot from Basra to Baghdad and Hilla, " accompanied bv
six Arabs, completely armed and equipped after the fashion
of the country, and by a small boat, tracked by eight sturdy
natives, in order to facilitate his researches on either bank
of the stream." Accordinglv he set out on his novel
tour towards the end of October, 1827. Many years afterwards,
when exploring the interior of Southern Babvlonia,
though then still unacquainted with Mignan's travels, I
adopted the same method of alternate walking and riding
in a native canoe [turrada). On the basis of my own past
experience, I am convinced that the method described is
the onlv one which in the end will accomplish a thorough
exploration of the marshv interior of Babvlonia.
The independence which Mignan thus enjoved in all his
movements was utilized especially to satisfy his curiosity
concerning the early remains occasionally met on both sides
of the Tigris. Often, when an old wall or an especially
promising mound attracted his attention, he stopped a few
hours to investigate the place or to cut a trench into the
ruin, with a view of ascertaining its age or discovering its
character.
Sixteen days after his departure from Basra, and
unmolested on his way by the Arabs, he reached the city
of the caliphs. Under the heavy showers of an early November
rain, he examined the tower of 'Aqarqut, in a few
subordinate points even correcting the accounts of previous
travellers. Then he turned his attention to the ruins of
Babylon, Birs, and Ohemir, to which he devoted nearly a
week of undivided attention. After all that had been written
on them, we cannot expect to find extraordinary new