events this slabs refers: but the occurrence of the colour upon the face gives some ground for the supposition that the men are negroes, and the animals the tribute of their country: on the other hand, it must be observed that there is no apparent difference in the character of the countenances from what may be seen in the other Nimrúd sculptures, while the mode of wearing the hair and of curling the beard, would seem to be identically the

same.

20 represents the king, standing to the left, with his right hand resting on the upper part of his staff. This is one of the most beautiful and admirably preserved specimens of the early Assyrian workmanship, and as such, an engraving has been made of it as the frontispiece to this work. The royal dress is richly fringed, and the embroidery is indicated by very delicate incised lines. On his eyes and sandals are the remains of colour. The left hand of the king reposes on the hilt of his sword. The sword itself is richly ornamented, and the end of the scabbard is decorated with a peculiar ornament, consisting of two lions placed back to back with another smaller lion below them. It is probable that this decoration was in the original effected by a covering Ornament of Royal of gold or silver. It is constantly found repeated on the scabbards of other warriors, but in no instance is so carefully sculptured as on that of the king.

Scabbard.

Next follow six slabs from a chamber marked G in Mr. Layard's plan of the N. W. edifice, which, from their greater dimensions, elaborate execution, and almost perfect preservation, may be considered the finest examples of Assyrian bas-reliefs which have reached this country. They represent the king among his attendants, supernatural and human, apparently returned from battle or the chase. All the figures are sumptuously attired, their robes fringed and embroidered with sacred or mystical ornaments: their sandals are painted in black and red, and remains of colour are discernible in the eyes. Of these slabs,

and were

21, 22, 23, are three which form one subject, originally placed at the north end of the chamber. The king

is seated in the middle on his throne with his feet on a footstool, his right hand raised, and supporting on the tips of his fingers the usual bowl. Before him stands a eunuch with the flyflapper in his right hand, and a bowl with a curious handle terminating in birds' heads on his left. Behind the eunuch is a figure in the usual Assyrian dress, wearing the conical twohorned cap, and holding in his right hand the fir-cone, and in his left the basket. Behind the king is another eunuch, raising the fly-flapper over the royal head with his right hand, and holding a bent bow in his left. On the third slab, behind the king, of which it has not been thought necessary to give a plate, another eunuch appears with a similar bow, and a massive club, and another winged figure almost identical with the former one. The extraordinary finish and preservation of these sculptures will astonish any person who examines them closely. Beautiful as is the workmanship upon those sculptures which first came over to England, those which were among Mr. Layard's earlier discoveries but from various accidents have been among the latest to arrive, far surpass them in the minuteness and richness of their decorations. The form of the chair or throne on which the king is sitting is remarkable, and resembles not a little those on the coins of the kings of Parthia: the corners of the seats terminate in bull's heads, while the feet of the footstool are

made with lions' paws. In the real throne these ornaments were doubtless of bronze, and it is not unlikely that the hollow bronze feet which Mr. Layard discovered under one of the fallen sculptures, were really portions of similar furniture. Upon the royal dress as upon that of the eunuchs and winged figures there is a deep border, covered with minute representations of men, struggling with animals, of winged horses, gryphons, the sacred tree, &c., while upon the vessel in the hand of the winged figure there is faintly traced a subject consisting of the same tree and a figure standing on each side of it, with the sacred symbol or Feroher in the air above it.

24, 25, 26, are from the east side of the same chamber. Mr. Layard found that the whole wall was covered with repetitions of the same two groups of figures, each repetition occupying three slabs. The specimens, which have been brought to England and are now placed here, are arranged in correspondence, though not in actual juxta-position with each other. They are as follows:

24. Winged and double-horned figure, with fir-cone and basket, and the king with his bow and two arrows held up in a symbolical position.

25. Winged and double-horned figure, with fir-cone and basket, completing a group with another slab similar to the preceding. Eunuch bearing the king's arms, belonging to a slab similar to the following.

26. King with the cup and bow and a eunuch fanning him. The bows on this slab and on 24 have each been painted, the remains of colour being still very evident.

We have already mentioned at the commencement of this description of the sculptures that, among the later discoveries of Mr. Layard, was one of a small temple. As we are now come to that part of the NIMRÚD SIDE GALLERY in which several slabs from this temple are placed, this will be an appropriate place for giving a fuller account of it.

The discovery of the temple was the result of the excavations Mr. Layard had made, with a view of ascertaining, if possible, what was the real nature of the conical mound at the N.W. corner of Nimrúd, which has been usually termed the pyramid, and has been thought by many to have been the famous Tomb of Sardanapalus. The temple abutted on against the eastern and southern faces of a structure which adjoined the basement of this pyramid. The principal entrances flanked by two colossal human-headed lions, sixteen feet and a half high by fifteen long, were to the east. Three small winged figures, one above the other, separated by an ornamented cornice, with an inscribed slab of alabaster, stood on the outer side of each of these lions. In front of each was a flat stone, perhaps, as suggested by Mr. Layard, the pedestal of an altar. At the distance of about thirty feet to the right (or north) of the lion entrance was a second one, within which and on each side of it, were two slabs (28, 29, in the NIMRÚd SIDE GALLERY), presenting, perhaps, the most remarkable subject which has yet been found among the ruins of ancient Assyria. It is believed to represent the Expulsion of the Evil Spirit by the Good.

The first (No. 28) exhibits a monstrous form, whose head, fanciful and hideous, has long pointed ears and extended jaws, armed with huge teeth. Its body is covered with feathers, its