THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE.

ABYLON was known in ancient times by

bylon is generally supposed to be derived from the tower of Babel, and that of Chaldæa, which is also appropriated to this country, from the Chaldæans.

These two names sometimes extend to the whole country, being taken for each other, and sometimes they are limited to certain parts; by Babylon or Babylonia, was meant the country in the neighbourhood of the city of Babylon; and by Chaldæa, that which extends southward to the Persian gulf. By the sacred writers the whole country is called Chaldæa, but profane authors usually denominate it Babylonia. It lies between 30 and 35 degrees north latitude, being bounded on the north by Mesopotamia, on the east by the Tigris, on the west by Arabia Deserta, and on the south by the Persian gulf and part of Arabia Felix.

The climate of this country is, for the most part, wholesome and temperate, though at particular seasons of the year, it is noxious and highly dangerous to the human constitution. The heat is so extraordinary, that the rich are accustomed to sleep even with a great part of their bodies immersed in water. For several months together it seldom or never rains, so that the inhabitants are at great labour and expense in watering their lands, the various engines used for that purpose being so numerous, especially along the banks of the Euphrates, as sometimes to impede the navigation of the river. This drought has been

known to continue for two years and a half, and the inhabitants are satisfied if it rain but twice or thrice in the course of the year. The richness of the soil, the general excellence of the climate, and the industry of the inhabitants, rendered this country one of the most fertile on the face of the earth.

The palm-tree naturally flourished throughout this land, chiefly of the date kind, which afforded the inhabitants meat, wine, and honey. The grain produced in this country exceeded that of every other; the millet and the sesame shot up into the size of trees, and the leaves of the barley and wheat were usually four fingers broad. The sesame yielded them oil, instead of the olive; and the palm, wine, instead of the grape.

The great fertility of this country must be principally ascribed to the overflowing of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, which, during the months of June, July, and August, are unable to carry away the vast quantities of water produced by the melting of the snow from the mountains of Armenia. These inundations, though highly beneficial to the soil of the country, were, for a considerable length of time, destructive to the manual operations of the inhabitants, till, at length, taught by experience, they guarded against the effects of these annual floods, by cutting a great number of artificial rivers or canals, with which the waters were distributed, the country in general benefited, and an easy communication effected between the inhabitants. At this distance of time it is impossible to determine with any degree of precision, which of the immense rivers in this country were natural, and which were artificial, but geographers seem generally agreed, in assigning to Nebuchadnezzar

the glory of having cut that branch of the Euphrates which falls into the river Tigris at Seleucia.

The Euphrates itself has its source from the Armenian mountains, whence it flows, dividing Arabia and Babylon from Mesopotamia, till, mixing with its fellow-traveller the Tigris, it falls at length into the Persian gulf. The course of this river is not rapid; in many parts it is not navigable but to very small vessels; its water is naturally turbid and foul, but when passed through a proper strainer, it is lighter, and preferable to any other in those regions, and from its excellence it obtained a name signifying the water of desire.

The vessels formerly used upon this river were round, without distinction of head or stern, and no better than great wicker baskets coated over with hides, which were guided with long oars. These vessels were of different sizes, some of them being capable of carrying a burden of palmwine, to the weight of 5000 talents, besides a number of asses. At Babylon, the great mart of trade, they used to unload their cargo, sell their vessels, but kept the hides, which they brought home by land on their asses.

This country is remarkable for having enclosed, according to the most rational opinions, within its limits, at least great part of Paradise. Here also was the plain of Shinar, or Senjar, where the whole race of mankind were gathered together in one body after the flood, from whence they dispersed themselves over the face of the earth.

Nimrod was the founder of Babel; but, for many ages, it evidently appears to have remained a petty royalty, till the Assyrians paved the way to the empire it attained. Its government was,

in its infancy, tyrannical and despotic, but at the death of Nimrod it fell to a level with other neighbouring states, till the Assyrians, in process of time, laid the foundations whereon it afterwards exalted itself as the queen of the east. The government, then, of Babylon, like that of Assyria, was strictly despotical, and its sceptre hereditary. The whole centered in the person of the king; all decrees issued from his mouth; he even affected the power, and claimed the worship, which belonged only to the Divinity. This was, perhaps, the most effectual means of intimidating not only his own subjects, but surrounding nations, who might otherwise have become rivals of his greatness, and have attempted to dispossess him of his kingdom. Upon a principle of this kind, the great conquerors of the east have always affected retirement, as too glorious to be beheld by vulgar eyes; thus contriving to keep in subjection a number of nations of different languages, complexions, and manners, to a person who must be a stranger to almost all of them.

The first monarchs of Babylon, however, administered their government by officers of several sorts, civil, and military; and accordingly we find them divided into three classes, supposed to be selected from among the most grave and noble persons in the empire: the first had the charge of the virgins, and their disposal in marriage; and to judge of all matters relating to the connubial state: the second took cognizance of theft: and the third of all other crimes. We find the subordinate powers under this mighty emperor divided into princes, governors, captains, judges,

and counsellors, so that nothing was wanting to keep the peace and good order of the empire.

This great king of kings had an household equal to the sublimity of his station, the chief officers of which were, the captain of his guard, the prince of the eunuchs, and the prime minister. The first had the execution of his arbitrary commands; the second had the charge of the education and subsistence of the youth of the palace, and the last sat in the king's gate to hear complaints, and to pass judgments. Besides these, there was the master of the magicians always at hand to satisfy the king upon any thing he might want to know, with regard to futurity and prognostication.

Though these kings seem to have claimed such high honours, and to have considered the whole world as created for their use and service, yet we understand, that they sometimes condescended to banquet with their great lords and chief men of their dominions, of whom we read in the book of Daniel, that a thousand were at one time entertained by Beltshazzar. The common style of salutation to this sovereign was, O King, live for ever! and the man who was so happy as in a particular manner to gain his favour, was clothed with purple or scarlet, adorned with a chain of gold about his neck, and invested with some government.

The laws of the empire were in general vague and uncertain, depending wholly upon the will of the monarch, but one was fixed and irrevocable, which obliged all, especially the poorer sort of the people, to marry. By this law the daughters of every man were bestowed in marriage according to the will of the king or his officers, in a manner to be related hereafter.