place. After a southerly course of about 40 miles, it receives
the Hasnawi, which rises near Asnowar, a place about 15
miles E. by N. of Nisibin; and proceeds from thence towards
the S.S.W.1
The courses of these streams have not been followed, but
one of them seems to answer to the Sacoras, or Mygdonius,2
which is described as being the principal feeder of the Mesopotamian
Khabur; and the other to the Hermas.3 The
latter, according to Abu-l-feda, rises behind Nisibin,4 and
afterwards forms two branches, the western of which falls
into the Khabur, whilst the eastern, on leaving the Hermas
branch, passes through the ruins of A1 Hadhr, in the plain
of Sinjar, and joins the Tigris near Tekrit.5
The place where this supposed bifurcation takes place is
not known, but we have the authority of Dr. Ross for the
existence of a considerable stream, rather narrow but very
deep, called the Tharthar, to the south-eastward of A1 Hadhr,
which place he twice succeeded in reaching. The ruins are
a mile in diameter, and are inclosed by a circular wall of
very massive construction, with towers at intervals; the whole
is surrounded by a deep ditch, and there are the remains of a
mound, also circular, beyond it.6
In the centre of the town stands the principal object of
curiosity; a range of buildings inclosed by a strong wall,
square on the plan, and similar in construction to that of the
city; the faces are opposite to the four cardinal points, and
each measures 300 paces in length inside. The buildings
consist of spacious halls and chambers, covered by semicircular
vaults, some of which rise to the height of 60 feet from the
ground; and on the pilasters there are figures in relief,7 apparently
Greek or Roman. The whole city is built of a
1 Wher Mr. Forbes crossed the stream, it was but two feet deep:—p. 420,
Vol. IX. Part III., Royal Geographical Journal.
° Olivier’s Travels, p. 344.
8 Which falls into the KMbiir.—MS. of Arabian Geography, translated by
Dr. Sprenger.
4 Abu-l-fedd.—MS. translation by Mr. Rassam. 5 Ibid.
• Vol. IX. Part III., of the Royal Geographical Journal, p. 467.
7 Ibid., p. 468.
brownish-grey lim^tone, the blocks of which are so closely
fitted that no cement is visible.1 The river Tharthar, which
passes about a mile eastward of the city, is so deep that Dr.
Ross and his party were obliged to swim their horses across.2
Its general course is S.E. and S. by E .; but if it reached the
Tigris in the time of Abu-l-feda, it does so no longer; for
Mr. Fitzjames crossed it on his route from Baghdad, near a
spot where it is lost in the sand3 and marshes.4
To return to the Jakhjakhah. After continuing to flow
about eight miles to the S.W., it receives the Kaukab (star),
a considerable tributary, coming from a point rather to the
eastward of Mar din nearly by, a S.E. course ; and, having
received this addition to its waters, the Jakhjakhah proceeds
in the same direction for a few miles, when it turns almost
due south, and thus enters the Khabur.
The course of the main stream continues as before, nearly
S.E., for a short distance, when it receives the Holi.5 This
stream, the Hoi of the Kjirds and Yezids,6 has its source
two hours N.W of Khatuniyah, and joins the main branch,
now called the Khabur, after a course of two hours
w.s.w.
The Hob, or Hauli, has hitherto been considered as the
principal branch of the Hermas ; but we now find that the
Holi, instead of being a considerable river, is merely a short
affluent to the Khabur, and, moreover, there does not appear
to be any other tributary to the latter in the fertile country
about the small mountain town of Sinjar ;7 so that the
name of Hauli is merely connected with the main trunk,
and not its tributary, the Mygdonius. The course of the
1 Vol. IX. Part III., of the Royal Geographical-Journal, p. 468.
8 Ibid., p. 455.
8 See Map. 4 Ibid.
5 Hauli, i. e. variable, or changeable; in the plural, Hawaii, the A1 Hauli
of Rennell.
8 Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. IX. Part III., p. 423.
7 Three copious springs rise near the town of Sinjar, and form a stream
of some size, which irrigates an extensive space of cultivated plain, but is lost
after a course of 13 or 14 miles.—Journal of the Royal Geographical Society,
Vol. IX. Part III., p. 415.
E 2