main stream, after this trifling increase, is towards the south;
and, after skirting the Sinjar hills,1 it continues winding
in the same direction through the Abd-el-Aziz range into
the Euphrates. Just before its confluence, it passes eastward
of the small town of Abu Serai, built amidst the ruins of
Kerkisiyah,8 westward of those which are presumed to be the
Kalneh, or Chalanne, of Nimrod ; 3 and between these may
still be traced some vestiges of the bridge once connecting
those ancient cities. Below the tributary just followed, the
course of the Euphrates is S. 20° E., along the southern side
of some ancient ruins, presumed to be those of Dakia;4 it
proceeds next to the little town of Ma’den, lower down on
the opposite side, and near the ancient castle of Rahabah, or
Rehoboth,5 which is about three and a half miles to the S.W.
of the latter place. From hence the river passes onwards
through a fine country, generally well wooded and rather
hilly, but very thinly peopled, as far as Is-Geria and Werdi;
which latter is 75 J miles from the Khabur by the windings,
and 45J miles S. 33° E. in direct distance. Throughout this
extent the river may be said to have an average width of
nearly 400 yards, with an ordinary depth of 18 feet, and a
current of four miles per hour, during the season of floods;
at which period of the year it forms, in this part of its course,
at intervals, 17 islands of various sizes, some of the largest
being well wooded.
Below Werdi the river sweeps round the western side
of the ruins of Erzi, where it takes a new direction, and
proceeds, by a much more winding course than before, to the
towns of Rawa and ’Anah : this last is 92 miles from Werdi
by the river, though the direct distance is but 50f miles
(east). The average width, from Werdi, may be considered
1 Mr. Forbes met with three streams in these hills, all taking the same
direction, and presumed to he lost hy irrigation; hut as they were not followed,
it is hoped that a fuller examination will, in due time, be made hy Lieutenant
Lynch.
* Is not Calno as Carchemish?—Isaiah x. 9.
8 Genesis x. 10.
4 At the beginning of Senaar.—Benjamin of Tudela. Bergeran, 1573, p. 29.
4 Rehoboth by the river.—Genesis xxxvi. 37.
as 350 yards, with an ordinary depth of 18 feet, and it has a
current of four miles per hour during the flood season, when
it forms, at intervals, 26 islands of various sizes, some wooded
and some bare. At the last of these, viz. Karablah, the
river is obstructed by a ledge of rocks, which constitutes
what may be considered as the greatest difficulty experienced
by boats throughout the navigation from Bir to Basrah.
Opposite this place the walled town of Rawa crowns the
summit of the hills rising from the left bank; whilst a little
lower, the houses of ’Anah along the right bank open to the
view, amidst thick date-groves. A string of islands lie nearly
in mid-stream, opposite the town; and still lower, but on the
left bank, are the ruins of the ancient Anatho.
Below this picturesque spot the windings are less frequent
than in the portion just described; and the course of the
river is through a succession of partially wooded hills, chiefly
of chalk formation, affording good pasture. Villages occasionally
appear, with cultivated grounds about them; and the
numerous remains of ancient aqueducts, covering both banks,
sufficiently show, what we learn from history, namely, that
this portion of the country was at one time thickly inhabited
by a civilized and flourishing people. The distance from
’Anah to the island of Hadisah is 49\ miles by the stream,
and 28J miles S. 48° E. in a direct line. The town contains
about 400 houses, and it is built on the ruins of the ancient
Hadith. The river at this place has an average width of
300 yards, with a depth of 18 feet, and a current of four
knots per hour in the season of floods, when it forms 30
islands, some of which are wooded, and a few, such as Tilbus,
have on them the remains of ancient buildings. Above
Hadisah, and at about two-thirds of the distance from Anah,
the river, being turned by high hills, makes a very remarkable
sweep in the opposite direction, or N.E., not unlike the
Thames at the Isle of Dogs, though on a larger scale; for
the Euphrates, at the spot called Hawaji el Khawwaslik, has
gained only 2J miles to the S.E., although its course along
the bend is 16f miles. The distance from Hadisah to the
well known town and bituminous fountains of the ancient