ABSTRACT
A few days before his departure from Constantinople Layard sat down to write a letter to his old friend Ross, explaining that he intended to take a new route to Mosul: by boat to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast and from there by the caravan trail to Lake Van, where there were many ruins and inscriptions. The last trek from Van to Mosul passed over some very high mountain passes and went through areas inhabited by both Kurds, Nestorians and Yezidis.
The funds given by the Museum are, as you know, exceedingly small. I scarcely know what I shall do to carry on the excavations. I have much less than I had last time — fortunately I have made a little money by my book and that will help me to keep above water. A medical man, a Dr. Sandwith, accompanies me. He is a very clever and amiable fellow & will be a great addition to our party. Mr. Cooper is rather green but will soon be broken in. Rassam is just as ever — buying all manner of trumpery to astonish the natives. 121
