es;
but they are plain and small, adding nothing to the beauty of the
vessels. Occasionally the whole vessel is glazed with a rich blue color.
[PLATE XX., Fig. 3.]

The Babylonians certainly employed glass for vessels for a small size.
They appear not to have been very skilful blowers, since their bottles
are not unfrequently misshappen. [PLATE XX., Fig. 3.] They generally
stained their glass with, some coloring matter, and occasionally
ornamented it with a ribbing. Whether they were able to form masses
of glass of any considerable size, whether they used it, like the
Egyptians, for beads and bugles, or for mosaics, is uncertain. If we
suppose a foundation in fact for Pliny's story of the great emerald (?)
presented by a king of Babylon to an Egyptian Pharaoh, we must conclude
that very considerable masses of glass were produced by the Babylonians,
at least occasionally; for the said emerald, which can scarcely have
been of any other material, was four cubits (or six feet) long and three
cubits (or four and a half feet) broad.

Of all the productions of the Babylonians none obtained such, high
repute in ancient times as their textile fabrics. Their carpets
especially were of great celebrity, and were largely exported to foreign
countries. They were dyed of various colors, and represented objects
similar to those found on the gems, as griffins and such like monsters.
Their position in the ancient world may be compared to that which is
now borne by the fabrics of Turkey and Persia, which are deservedly
preferred to those of all other countries.

Next to their carpets, the highest, character was borne by their
muslins. Formed of the finest cotton, and dyed of the most brilliant
colors, they seemed to the Oriental the very best possible material for
dress. The Persian kings preferred them for their own wear; and they
had an early fame in foreign countries at a considerable distance from
Babylonia. It is probable that they were sometimes embroidered with
delicate patterns, such as those which may be seen on the garments of
the early Babylonian kings.

Besides woollen and cotton fabrics, the Babylonians also manufactured
a good deal of linen cloth, the principal seat of the manufacture being
Borsippa. This material was produced, it is probable, chiefly for home
consumption, long linen robes being generally worn by the people.

From the arts of the Babylonians we may now pass to their science--an
obscure subject, but one