Thus, however ample the command of naked human strength enjoyed by the Assyrian king, who had always at his absolute disposal the labor of many thousand captives, still there was in every great work much which could only be intrusted to Assyrians, who appear to have been employed largely in the grand constructions of their monarchs.
The implements of labor have a considerable resemblance to those in present use among ourselves.

The saws were two-handed; but as the handle was in the same line with the blade, instead of being set at right angles to it, they must have been somewhat awkward to use.

The shovels were heart-shaped, like those which Sir C.Fellows noticed in Asia Minor.

The pickaxes had a single instead of a double head, while the hatchets were double-headed, though here probably the second head was a mere knob intended to increase the force of the blow.

[PLATE CXL., Fig.
1.] The hand-carts were small and of very simple construction: they were made open in front and behind, but had a slight framework at the sides.
They had a pole rising a little in front, and were generally drawn by two men.