CHAPTER III.
GENERAL COURSE OF THE EUPHRATES.
The two Sources of the Euphrates in Armenia.—Chasms at Kemakh and
Pash-tash.—The Euphrates joined by the Murid CMi.—Town and Castle
of Bir.—Difference of level between the Euphrates at Blr and the Mediterranean.—
The deserted towns of Zelibi.—The Khdbur enters the
Euphrates.—Course of the River to Werdi.—Bend of the Euphrates near
Haditha.—The Canal of Sakliwiyah joins the Euphrates and Tigris.—
State of the Euphrates at Tlilldh—Town of Lamliim.—Mouth of the
Euphrates.
T h e river now about to be described rises at no great distance
from tlie shores of the Euxine, and, in its course to the
Indian ocean, almost skirts those of the Mediterranean;
under such circumstances as these, we cannot be surprised to
find that the Euphrates at one time formed the principal
link connecting Europe commercially with the East. Its
historical celebrity has excited in its favour an interest
superior to that which has been felt for any other river;
and it may be reasonably expected that when its advantages
shall be fully known and duly appreciated, it will rise to a
high degree of political and commercial importance.
In a range of more than 1780 miles from its eastern source,
this river may be said to unite three great and important seas;
which, without it, would be destitute of any water communication
with each other, while the varied productions of the
intervening territory would, in a great measure,, be lost to the
rest of the world.
This classic stream, which, having been the scene of our
labours, will form the main subject of these volumes, has two
great sources in the Armenian mountains, and it bears the
name of Frat1 in its whole course from the most northern
1 Fordt—Forath, in the Hebrew Perath, of Phrath, meaning to fructify,
or fertilize.
CHAP. I I I . ] SOURCES OF THE FRAT. 41
of these sources, which is situated in the Anti-Taurus, 25 miles
N.E. of Erz-Rum. The branch from thence takes a westerly
direction at first, and, after passing within seven or eight
miles of the capital of Armenia, it is joined, a few miles
farther west, by two small feeders, coming also from the
north; then, after a course of about 40 miles farther to the
W.S.W., it receives a third, coming from the west, near
Kather-Kopri; and again, a little lower, but on the opposite
side, and coming from the Judi Tagh range, the Mahmah
Khatun, which is its first large tributary, and runs into it
through the plain of Terjan.1 From hence the river, which
is now a considerable stream known by the name of the Kara
su, makes a circuit, winding through the mountains and over
rapids, into the plain of Erzingan ;2 through which it flows
in the same general direction, close to the town of that name.
This place contains about 3000 houses, and is situated at the
western extremity of the plain.3 Here the Kara su enters a
narrow, difficult defile, which continues as far as Kemakh,
a mountain town, situated about 26 miles S. 55° W. of Erzingan,
and consisting of 400 Turkish, with 30 Armenian
houses, which are singularly placed amidst gardens, on a slope,
ascending from the river.
A t the eastern side of Kemakh, a large tributary, called
the Komer su, enters from the westward, beyond the
town of Devrek, after a course of 70 or 80 miles, with a
sufficient body of water to carry timber, which is afterwards
floated along the Kara su for the use of Kebban
Ma’den.4
Immediately after the junction of this branch, the main
trunk passes under a wooden bridge, and enters a deep chasm
in the mountains, through which its united waters have
forced their way.5
1 Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. VI. Part II., p. 201.
8 It is fordable only at a few places even in the dry season.
3 Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. VI. Part II., p. 16.
* Ibid., p. 203.
5 This chasm is mentioned by Pliny, lib. V., c. 24; as well as by several
of the old writers; and also by D’Anville.