BAGGAGE. bable, because all the remaining bricks are placed square, and not in the least circular. The bricks are all twelve inches square and four and a half thick. The cement is of mud or slime, mixed with broken reed, as we mix hair with mortar; which slime might either have been had from one of the great rivers, or taken out of one of the swamps in the plain, with which the country hereabout very much abounds. The height of the ruin is 126 feet; the diameter of the largest and middle part about 100 feet. It would appear to be solid to the centre; yet near the top there is a regular opening of an oval form. The circumference of that part of the tower which remains, and is above the rubbish, is about 300 feet; but probably could the foundation be come at, it would be found of far greater extent. The present Turks, Jews, and Arabians, are fond of believing this to be the identical ruin of the ancient tower of Babel, for which they assign a variety of reasons; but all so void of the appearance of truth, that to set about confuting them would be losing time in trifles. It appears to have been a beacon or watch-tower, to give notice of the approach of an enemy; or perhaps was used as an observatory to inspect the various motions of the heavenly bodies; which science was so much cultivated among the ancient inhabitants of this country, that even the Grecians, though desirous of being esteemed the inventors of all arts and sciences, could never deny the Babylonians the honour of having laid the foundations of astronomy.