his boat over the "waters of death," and at length he landed on the
shore of the country of Uta-Napishtim. The immortal came down to the
shore and asked the newcomer the object of his visit, and Gilgamish
told him of the death of his great friend Enkidu, and of his desire
to escape from death and to find immortality. Uta-Napishtim having
made to Gilgamish some remarks which seem to indicate that in his
opinion death was inevitable,

1. Gilgamish [10] said unto Uta-Napishtim, to Uta-Napishtim the remote:
2. "I am looking at thee, Uta-Napishtim.
3. Thy person is not altered; even as am I so art thou.
4. Verily, nothing about thee is changed; even as am I so art thou.
5. [Moved is my] heart to do battle,
6. But thou art at leisure and dost lie upon thy back.
7. How then wast thou able to enter the company of the gods and
see life?"

Thereupon Uta-Napishtim related to Gilgamish the Story of the Deluge,
and the Eleventh Tablet continues thus:--

8. Uta-Napishtim said unto him, to Gilgamish:
9. "I will reveal unto thee, O Gilgamish, a hidden mystery,
10. And a secret matter of the gods I will declare unto thee.
11. Shurippak, [11] a city which thou thyself knowest,
12. On [the bank] of the river Puratti (Euphrates) is situated,
13. That city was old and the gods [dwelling] within it--
14. Their hearts induced the great gods to make a wind-storm
(a-bu-bi), [12]
15. Their father Anu,
16. Their counsellor, the warrior Enlil,