expedition. The facts taken
altogether prove that it was a continuation of the preceding
one, and it may therefore be placed in the year B.C. 878.

** The campaign of B.C. 878 had for its arena that of the
Euphrates which lies between the Khabur and the Balikh; this
time, however, the principal operations took place on the
right bank. If Mount Bisuru is the Jebel-Bishri, the town of
Kipina, which is mentioned between it and Kharidi, ought to
be located between Maidan and Sabkha.

A complete submission was brought about, and its permanency secured
by the erection of two strongholds, one of which, Kar-assur-nazir-pal,
commanded the left, and the other, Nibarti-assur, the right bank of the
Euphrates.*

This last expedition had brought the king into contact with the most
important of the numerous Aramaean states congregated in the western
region of Mesopotamia. This was Bit-Adini, which lay on both sides of
the middle course of the Euphrates.** It included, on the right bank, to
the north of Carchemish, between the hills on the Sajur and Araban-Su, a
mountainous but fertile district, dotted over with towns and fortresses,
the names of some of which have been preserved--Pakarrukhbuni, Sursunu,
Paripa, Dabigu, and Shitamrat.*** Tul-Barsip, the capital, was situated
on the left bank, commanding the fords of the modern Birejik,****
and the whole of the territory between this latter and the Balikh
acknowledged the rule of its princes, whose authority also extended
eastwards as far as the basaltic plateau of Tul-Aba, in the Mesopotamian
desert.

* The account in the Annals is confused, and contains
perhaps some errors with regard to the facts. The site of
the two towns is nowhere indicated, but a study of the map
shows that the Assyrians could not become masters of the
country without occupying the passes of the Euphrates; I am
inclined to think that Kar-assur-nazir-pal is El-Halebiyeh,
and Nibarti-assur, Zalebiyeh, the Zenobia of Roman times.

** Bit-Adini appears to have occupied, on the right bank of
the Euphrates, a part of the cazas of Ain-Tab, Rum-kaleh,
and Birejik, that of Suruji, minus the nakhiyeh of Harran,
the larger part of the cazas of Membij and of Rakkah, and
part of the caza of Zor, the cazas being those represented
on the maps of Vital Cuinet.

*** None of these localities can be identified with