Some Important Discoveries

An account of the scientific exploration of the ruins of Niffer, near aneient Babyion, which is being made by American scientists under the auspices of the Babylonian exploration fund which was subscribed by Philadelphians In 1888, has been furnished the state department by Minister Terrell. The work of excavation began in 1887 and has been continued by Dr. Peters and Dr. Hilpricht, onlythe former being now engaged. From 150 .to 250 Arabs are constantly empJoyed. In the number oï tablets, brick inscribed vases. and in the value of cuneiform texts found, the American enterprise is said to rival the explora tions of Iayard in Ninevah. Many tons of tablets, sarcophagi and the like, dating back to 4,000 B. C have already arrived at the museum of Constantinople, and the sultan in recognition of the services of the American professors, has promised that the XJniversity of Pennsylvania shall receive one of all duplicate antiques. Minister Terrell says that tliis enterprise has revealed an antiquity of the human race nearly ten centuries older than science had knowledge of before. The religión, government, habite of life and to a great extent the customs of men who lived 4,000 years before Clirist are reyealed by the inscriptions. Tlms far 20,000 inscribed tablets oí clay and stone have been discovered, bearing inscriptions which include promuses to pay debts, deeds, contracts and a-ecords of important public and private events. One tablet Been by Minister Terrell was a promise to pay borrowed money, with interest in sheckels in the reign oï