Page:Discovery and Decipherment of the Trilingual Cuneiform Inscriptions.djvu/115

This page needs to be proofread.

86

CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTIONS

brought from the immediate vicinity.^[1] When, however, Morier paid his second visit to Murgab in 1811, he was so overawed by the ponderous learning of his travellng companion Ouseley, that he tacitly allowed the subject to drop. On this occasion he succeeded in gaining access to the interior, but found nothing worthy of mention. He also noticed for the first time a very remarkable bas-relief of a winged human figure, and over it a repetition of the inscription he had already copied.^[2]

Kaempfer had set the example of collecting specimens, and we fear the gentlemen of the embassy were only too ready to follow in his steps. They even went so far as to bring stone-cutters with them, provided with the requisite tools to carry their design into effect. We afterwards hear rather ominously of 'the specimens in the possession of Sir Gore Ouseley and Lord Aberdeen.'^[3] Morier published in 1812 the account of his his 'First Journey' containing the famous Cyrus inscription, and in 1818 the account of his 'Second Journey' followed. These works were well received, and can

↑ Inscription M.
↑ Second Journey, p. 117.
↑ Second Journey, p. 75; Ouseley, ii. 255. They were afterwards given to the British Museum, and for a long time were the only materials for the study of Persian art. The practice of taking away specimens seems to have been continued by later travellers, and, as Porter says, much of value was 'doomed to the predatory mallet' (p. 632). When Rich visited the ruins in 1821, he observed that many parts had been defaced by the passion for preserving curiosities. This rage has induced some even to chip off bits of inscriptions. One has endeavoured to chisel off a very fine head, which was well preserved, and, not succeeding, he has apparently in wrath thrown his mallet against the head and smashed it.' (Kourdistan ii. 222.) Rich found the inscription on the robe of the king in the Palace of Xerxes had suffered from these proceedings. 'They have been variously defaced by people chipping off pieces (mostly very recently) for curiosities. I have copied what remains of three of them' (Babylon and Persepolis Pl. 19). A disease visited the people of the country shortly after, and those of them who had assisted in these acts of Vandalism thought themselves justly punished. Flandin, ii. 113, 127.

[1] Inscription M.

[2] Second Journey, p. 117.

[3] Second Journey, p. 75; Ouseley, ii. 255. They were afterwards given to the British Museum, and for a long time were the only materials for the study of Persian art. The practice of taking away specimens seems to have been continued by later travellers, and, as Porter says, much of value was 'doomed to the predatory mallet' (p. 632). When Rich visited the ruins in 1821, he observed that many parts had been defaced by the passion for preserving curiosities. This rage has induced some even to chip off bits of inscriptions. One has endeavoured to chisel off a very fine head, which was well preserved, and, not succeeding, he has apparently in wrath thrown his mallet against the head and smashed it.' (Kourdistan ii. 222.) Rich found the inscription on the robe of the king in the Palace of Xerxes had suffered from these proceedings. 'They have been variously defaced by people chipping off pieces (mostly very recently) for curiosities. I have copied what remains of three of them' (Babylon and Persepolis Pl. 19). A disease visited the people of the country shortly after, and those of them who had assisted in these acts of Vandalism thought themselves justly punished. Flandin, ii. 113, 127.

[1]

[2]

[3]