The evidence, however, of the original explorers is distinct, that _at the time of discovery_ these traces were very much more abundant.

Mr.Layard observed color at Nimrud on the hair, beard, and eyes of the figures, on the sandals and the bows, on the tongues of the eagle-headed mythological emblems, on a garland round the head of a winged priest( ?), and on the representation of fire in the bas-relief of a siege.

At Khorsabad, MM.

Botta and Flandin found paint on the fringes of draperies, on fillets, on the mitre of the king, on the flowers carried by the winged figures, on bows and spearshafts, on the harness of the horses, on the chariots, on the sandals, on the birds, and sometimes on the trees.

The torches used to fire cities, and the flames of the cities themselves, were invariably colored red.