dings appeared before him. Assyria was bounded on the east by a
line of small states, comprising the Katna*** and the Bit-Khalupi,****
whose towns, placed alternately like sentries on each side the Khabur,
protected her from the incursions of the Bedawin.

* Nipur or Nibur is the Nibaros of Strabo. If we consider
the general direction of the campaign, we are inclined to
place Nipur close to the bank of the Tigris, east of the
regions traversed in the preceding campaign, and to identify
it, as also Pazatu, with the group of high hills called at
the present day the Ashit-dagh, between the Kharzan-su and
the Batman-tchai.

** The Mushku (Moschiano or Meshek) mentioned here do not
represent the main body of the tribe, established in
Cappadocia; they are the descendants of such of the Mushku
as had crossed the Euphrates and contested the possession of
the regions of Kashiari with the Assyrians.

*** The name has been read sometimes Katna, sometimes Shuna.
The country included the two towns of Kamani and Dur-
Katlimi, and on the south adjoined Bit-Khalupi; this
identifies it with the districts of Magada and Sheddadiyeh,
and, judging by the information with which Assur-nazir-pal
himself furnishes us, it is not impossible that Dur-Katline
may have been on the site of the present Magarda, and Kamani
on that of Sheddadiyeh. Ancient ruins have been pointed out
on both these spots.

**** Suru, the capital of Bit-Khalupi, was built upon the
Khabur itself where it is navigable, for Assur-nazir-pal
relates further on that he had his royal barge built there
at the time of the cruise which he undertook on the
Euphrates in the VIth year of his reign. The itineraries of
modern travellers mention a place called es-Sauar or es-
Saur, eight hours' march from the mouth of the Khabur on the
right bank of the river, situated at the foot of a hill some
220 feet high; the ruins of a fortified enclosure and of an
ancient town are still visible. Following Tomkins, I should
there place Suru, the chief town of Khalupi; Bit-Khalupi
would be the territory in the neighbourhood of es-Saur.

[Illustration: 024.jpg ONE OF THE WINGED BULLS FOUND AT ARBAN]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a sketch by Layard.

They were virtually Chaldaean cities, having been, like most of those
which