'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎69] (116/905)

CHAP. IV.]
THE TAURUS.
69
arm, and subsequently traverses Asia Minor by tlie line of
Kaisariyeh. Previously to crossing the Euphrates the chain
is more continuous, and has a higher elevation than the pre
ceding branch; as the lofty groups of Sir Sera and Mut
Khan, the Ala Tagh, Sapan, Nimrud, and Darkish Taghs
sufficiently indicate. Limestone and gypsum prevail, with Geological
basalt, and other volcanic rocks. Deep valleys separate the c aracter "
parallel ridges, and also break their continuity by occasional
passes from the northern to the southern sides. The southern
slopes have pines mixed with spruce, fir, oaks, ash, walnut,
and poplars below. Those on the north are scantily covered
with dwarf and valonia oak, with, gum tragacanth and
shrubs, amongst which rhododendron and hellebore are at
times conspicuous. The lower parts of the valleys afford
pasture; and the sides are cultivated in terraces, with grain,
rhubarb, &c., about the villages. These, notwithstanding
their peculiar construction, are picturesque 2 from their situa
tion, 3 and rich in appearance, owing to the fruits and flowers
about them. 4
That portion of these chains which runs along the southern
side of the Murad valley appears to answer to the Anti-Taurus J™"™**
of Strabo and Pliny, and being above the line of perpetual Anti-Taurus,
snow at the peaks of Ala Tagh, Sapdn, Nimrtid, and the
peaked glacier of Mut Khan, it is manifestly more elevated
than the Taurus itself. It separates Armenia from Mesopo
tamia, 5 and likewise Acilisene from Sophene to the south;
whilst the bare rocky felspar peaks of Kal'at Tagh (on which
is built the town of Arghani) and All Tagh form its abut
ments in the latter direction, skirting the northern side of the
basaltic plain of Diy4r Bekr, 7 which produces three kinds of
jasper. 8
■ Mr. Brant's Journey: Vol. X. Part III., p. 382, rf the Journal of the
Royal Geographical Society 1 - j P-
3 Such as Guzel Dereh, ibid., p. 384. . . i -
^ Anemones, wild tulips, rhubarb, and southernwood, at a lonely spot.—
Viscount Pollington's Journey, ibid., p. 448.
5 Strabo, lib. XL, p. 521. Ibld -' J; 527 '
' Ainsworth's Assyria and Babylonia, pp. 269, 270, and 271.
8 Ibid., p. 212.