the Mendeli stream, we ought to look for Bit-Imbi somewhere near the Desht-i-Ghoaur and the Zenjan, near a point where communication with the banks of the Ab-i-Kirind would be easy.

Sargon, meanwhile, had crossed the Euphrates with the other force, and had marched straight upon Bit-Dakkuri; having there noticed that the fortress of Dur-Ladinu was in ruins, he rebuilt it, and, firmly installed within the heart of the country, he patiently waited until the eastern force had accomplished its mission.  Like his adversary, Merodach-baladan, he had no desire to be drawn into an engagement until he knew what chance there was of the latter being reinforced by the King of Elam.  At the opening of hostilities Merodach-baladan claimed the help of the Elamite king, and lavished on him magnificent presents—­a couch, a throne, a portable chair, a cup for the royal offerings, and his own pectoral chain; these all reached their destination in good condition, and were graciously accepted.  But before long the Elamite prince, threatened in his own domain, forgot everything except his own personal safety, and declared himself unable to render Merodach-baladan any assistance.  The latter, on receiving this news, threw himself with his face in the dust, rent his clothes, and broke out into loud weeping; after which, conscious that his strength would not permit of his meeting the enemy in the open field, he withdrew his men from the other side of the Tigris, escaped secretly by night, and retired with his troops to the fortress of Ikbibel.  The inhabitants of Babylon and Borsippa did not allow themselves to be disconcerted; they brought the arks of Bel, Zarpanit, Nebo, and Tashmit out of their sanctuaries, and came forth with chanting and musical instruments to salute Sargon at Dur-Ladinu.  He entered the city in their company, and after he had celebrated the customary sacrifices, the people enthroned him in Merodach-baladan’s palace.  Tribute was offered to him, but he refused to accept any part of it for his personal use, and applied it to a work of public utility—­the repairing of the ancient canal of Borsippa, which had become nearly filled up.  This done, he detached a body of troops to occupy Sippara, and returned to Assyria, there to take up his winter quarters.

Once again, therefore, the ancient metropolis of the Euphrates was ruled by an Assyrian, who united in one protocol the titles of the sovereigns of Assur and Kar-duniash.  Babylon possessed for the kings of Nineveh the same kind of attraction as at a later date drew the German Caesars to Rome.  Scarcely had the Assyrian monarchs been crowned within their own domains, than they turned their eyes towards Babylon, and their ambition knew no rest till the day came for them to present themselves in pomp within the temple of its god and implore his solemn consecration.  When at length they had received it, they scrupulously secured its renewal on every occasion which the law prescribed, and their chroniclers recorded among the