Near the southern extremity of the main ridge of Kurdistan,
the range designated Taurus proper1 diverges from the
Zagros in two almost parallel lines. The southern and lower
line, called the Kara Tagh, runs W.N.W. to the pass of Der-
bend, near Sule'imaniyah, where, under the name of the Azmir
Tagh, or Jiozeh hills, it inclines a little more to the north, as
far as the Lesser Zab; and onward to the culminating point of
Pir-Man, near the banks of the Great Zab. The greater range,
first known as the Avroman, and afterwards as the Kurkur,2
runs W. N.W., passing close to Suleimaniyah, and onward to
the point of junction with the other near the south side of the
Koi-Sanjak plain. From hence the single chain runs N.W.
to the Greater Zab, where it resumes the previous direction of
W. S.W., and, under the names of the Zebari and Amadiyah
mountains, skirts the southern side of the singular country
occupied by the Kaldani Christians. Towards the western
extremity of their territory, where it is called Buhtan, or Judi
Tagh, it sweeps northward to the valley of the Tigris; beyond-
which its course is nearly west of Mardin, entering Asia
Minor above Sumelsat, but previously sending out a branch
from the peak of Karadja Tagh, which curves round Severik
and Gergen Kal’eh, and is lost in the elevated mountains of
Cilicia.
The range followed thus far, and forming nearly one-
half of ancient Taurus, is divided into two equal portions;
but that which is eastward of the river Tigris is on a much
grander scale than the other, especially near the elevated
peaks of Jebel Maklub, Om el Safra, Raban Ormuz, Jebel
Abiat, and Jebel Judi. The formation is chiefly of limestone,
with red sandstones, conglomerate, and occasionally jasper.3
Conical, bare summits, with irregular sides, either bearing
timber, or partially covered with the valonia plant and other
shrubs, and intersected by deep valleys less or more peopled,
are the prevailing characteristics of this striking portion of
the range. In crossing Upper Mesopotamia, the Taurus is
1 Strabo, XI., p. 521.
* Ainsworth’s Assyria and Babylonia, p. 241.
3 Ainsworth’s Researches in Assyria, &c., pp. 2*72 and 286; also MS. of do.
lower, more rocky, and less continuous than before; and at
Mardin the height of the limestone summit of Mount Masius
scarcely exceeds 2300 feet.1 The Baarem range, which connects
it with Mount Judi, and also the rocky range of Karajah
Tagh to the westward, are a trap formation. Conical summits,
with steep sides almost deprived of wood, prevail as far as the
latter point; beyond which, towards O'rfah, there is a chalk
formation. Northward of this city, however, bold limestone
declivities succeed, the lower beds of which, at the pass of
Taurus, near Gergen Kal’eh,2 are mixed with red sandstones
and conglomerates. From the eastern side, and a little
higher, the great arm of Anti-Taurus curves northward;
sending out inferior branches in the latter direction, and
Continuing to diverge more and more from the laurus, until
their opposite extremities are separated by that part of ancient
Assyria, which extends from the southern slopes of Mount
Ararat to the Zagros range, in 35° north latitude.
As the western branches of the Taurus are to be traced in
, a subsequent Chapter, it is only necessary, with regard to the
mountains so called, to remind the reader, that anciently the
name had a most extensive signification. Following Eratosthenes,
Strabo says, that Asia is divided from west to east
by this great chain; the territory lying northward of it
being designated by the Greeks, on this side of the Taurus;
whilst that to the southward was called beyond the Taurusg
The mountain chain is said to extend, in length, through
the whole continent, with a breadth, in many places, of 3000
stadia; and from it the rivers flow in opposite directions, or
from north to south.4 This great width, which is equal to
about 340 miles, indicates an extensive tract of country, such
as the plateau of Iran, rather than a mere chain of mountains;
6 especially as it contained the Parthians, Medes, and
1 Mr. Ainsworth’s Journey from Constantinople: Vol. X. Part III., p. 521,
of th e Royal Geographical Journal. _
2 Ibid., Vol. X. Part III., p. 332, of the Royal Geographical Journal.
a Strabo, lib. XL, pp. 491, 520, 522.
4 Ibid., pp. 490, 491. . .
3 Pliny says, it separates numerous nations, and divides Asia into two parts