important events of the year, the ceremony in which they “took the hand of Bel.”  Sargon therefore returned, in the month Nisan of the year 709, to preside over the procession of the god, and he devoutly accomplished the rites which constituted him the legitimate successor of the semi-fabulous heroes of the old empire, foremost among whom was his namesake Shargani of Agade.  He offered sacrifices to Bel, Nebo, and to the divinities of Sumir and Akkad, and he did not return to the camp until he had fulfilled all the duties incumbent on his new dignity.  He was involved that year in two important wars at opposite points of his empire.  One was at the north-western extremity, against the Mushki and their king Mita, who, after having supported Eusas, was now intriguing with Argistis; the other in the south-east, against the Kalda, and probably also against Elam.  He entrusted the conduct of the former to the governor of Kui, but reserved to himself the final reckoning with Merodach-baladan.  The Babylonian king had made good use of the respite given him during the winter months.  Too prudent to meet his enemy in the open plain, he had transformed his hereditary principality into a formidable citadel.  During the preceding campaign he had devastated the whole of the country lying between the marshes and the territory occupied by the Assyrians, and had withdrawn the inhabitants.  Most of the towns—­Ikbibel, Uru, Uruk, Kishik, and Nimid-laguda—­were also deserted, and no garrisons were left in them.  He had added to the fortifications of Dur-Yakia, and enlarged the moat till it was two hundred cubits wide and eighteen deep, so as to reach the level of infiltration; he then turned into it the waters of the Euphrates, so that the town appeared to be floating on a lake, without either bridges or quays by means of which the besiegers might have brought their machines within range and their troops been able to approach for an assault.  Merodach-baladan had been careful not to shut himself within the town, but had taken up a position in the marshes, and there awaited the arrival of the Assyrians.  Sargon, having left Babylon in the month of Iyyar, encountered him within sight of Dur-Yakin.  The Aramaean infantry were crushed by repeated charges from the Mnevito chariotry and cavalry, who pursued the fugitives to the outer side of the moat, and seized the camp with all its baggage and the royal train, including the king’s tent, a canopy of solid silver which protected the throne, his sceptre, weapons, and stores of all kinds.  The peasants, to the number of 90,580, crowded within the lines, also fell into their hands, together with their flocks and herds—­2500 horses, 610 mules, and 854 camels, as well as sheep, oxen, and asses; the remainder of the fugitives rushed within the outworks for refuge “like a pack of wild boars,” and finally were driven into the interior of the place, or scattered among the beds of reeds along the coast.  Sargon cut down the groves of palm trees which adorned the suburbs, and