No. XXXII."

MESOPOTAMIA AND ASSYRIA:

FROM THE EARLIEST AGES TO THE PRESENT TIME.

WITH

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THEIR NATURAL HISTORY.

By J. BAILLIE FRASER, Esq.,

Author of "An Historical and Descriptive Account of Persia," &c.

ONE VOLUME. JUST PUBLISHED.

In the work now presented to the public, the Author has endeavoured to bring under one view all that is known of the history and aspect, moral, physical, and political, of the provinces of Mesopotamia and Assyria; and to give at the same time a sketch of the causes that have produced the revolutions of which they have been the theatre. The subject is extensive and complicated; and the difficulty of compressing the matter which it embraces into one volume was proportionally great. The Author, however, can safely affirm, that no pains have been spared in collecting the most suitable materials to be found in the writings of others, as well as in applying such as have been furnished by his own acquaintance with those interesting countries.

The geographical account which has been given will be found at once entirely accurate, and as particular, too, as the limits of such a work will permit. In this description may be included the characteristic details of manners and customs of the Arab and Kurdish tribes, which, derived chiefly from actual observation, have been confirmed by various persons, whose opinions, from their opportunities of judging, are entitled to the highest credit.

The sketch of the natural history of these provinces has likewise been drawn up with an anxious desire to afford a summary of whatever valuable information has been collected upon the subject.

Of the decorations of this volume the Author has only to observe, that they are all engraved from drawings made by himself upon the spot; and that he can vouch at least for their accuracy, nothing having been added to the original sketch except the particular effect which was deemed appropriate to the subject.

The utmost care has been bestowed on the construction of the Map, which will be found to contain all the additions made by recent travellers to our geographical knowledge of the interesting country which occupies the basin of the Tigris and Euphrates.