Stone of a good quality, either limestone, sandstone, or conglomerate, is always at hand; while a tolerable clay is also to be found in most plices.

If a more durable material is required, basaltic rock may be obtained from the Mons Masius--a substance almost as hard as granite.

On the left bank of the Tigris a soft gray alabaster abounds which is easily cut into slabs, and forms an excellent material for the sculptor.

The neighboring mountains of Kurdistan contain marbles of many different qualities; and these could be procured without much difficulty by means of the rivers.

From the same quarter it was easy to obtain the most useful metals.