1.] Vengeance was further taken by the destruction of the valuable trees in the vicinity, more especially the highly prized date-palms, which were cut with hatchets half through their stems at the distance of about two feet from the ground, and then pulled or pushed down.

[PLATE CXI., Fig.
2.] Other trees were either treated similarly, or denuded of their branches.

Occasionally the destruction was of a less wanton and vengeful character.

Timber-trees were cut down for transport to Assyria, where they were used in the construction of the royal-palaces; and fruit-trees were occasionally taken up by the roots, removed carefully, and planted in the gardens and orchards of the conquerors.

Meanwhile there was a general plundering of the captured place.