As the traveller descends southward from Baghdad he finds these indications increase, until, on nearing the Euphrates, a few miles beyond Mohawil, he notes that they have become continuous, and finds himself in a region of mounds, some of which are of enormous size.
These mounds begin about five miles above Hillah, and extend for a distance of about three miles from north to south along the course of the river, lying principally on its left or eastern bank.

The ruins on this side consist chiefly of three great masses of building.

The most northern, to which the Arabs of the present day apply the name of BABIL--the true native appellation of the ancient citys--is a vast pile of brick-work of an irregular quadrilateral shape, with precipitous sides furrowed by ravines, and with a flat top.

[PLATE X., Fig.,3.] Of the four faces of the ruin the southern seems to be the most perfect.
It extends a distance of about 200 yards, or almost exactly a stade, and runs nearly in a straight line from west to east.

At its eastern extremity it forms a right angle with the east face, which runs nearly due north for about 180 yards, also almost in a straight line.