'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.' [‎107] (156/905)

CHAP. VI.] VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS. 107
being hilly rather than mountainous, and at the same time
but little cultivated: it differs considerably from the preceding
district, especially as to temperature; for the inhabitants
experience what has been so expressively called by Humboldt
an extreme climate, the thermometer being as high as 110°,
under a tent, in July, and 8° below zero in winter, with a
continuance of snow for some weeks during the coldest part
of the latter period. In the summer, and during the greater
part of autumn, there is scarcely any rain in Upper Mesopo
tamia ; but during the remainder of the latter season, and till
the snow is melted in the lower part of the neighbouring
range of the Taurus, it falls abundantly. This region, like
the district southward of the Khabur, abounds with the
ordinary kinds of grain; and the fruits of a warmer tempera
ture, such as oranges, grapes, and pomegranates, (which are
particularly fine,) walnuts, pistachios, and other products of
a colder region, are equally good. The country about Port
William has, at one season, the aigrette, the parrot, stork, wild fowl,
flamingo, bustard, and the turdus Seleucus, of which the last
feeds on that scourge of the country, the locust. These are
succeeded, at a later period, by wild geese, ducks, teal, swans,
snipes, tern, and the cinereous vulture.
'Anah, Rahabah, Mardin, Mosul, Arbel, Koi Sanjac, Ker-
kuk, Teknt, Suleimaniyah, Zohab, and Khani-kin, are subject
to the pashalic of Baghdad; of which, however, Mesopotamia
constitutes the most important portion: but, a few years
back, O'rfah was included, and sometimes also Diyar Bekr.
The northern part, or that above the capital, is known to
the Arabs as A1 Jezireh, or the Island, and the remainder
as 'Irak Arabi; both of which, and the former especially,
being much esteemed for the excellency of the pasture, as
well as the fertility of the soil. The products of this region
are tobacco, Indian corn, wheat, barley, cotton, large quan
tities of fine wool, goats -hair, with the addition of gall-nuts
and yellow berries in the mountainous parts to the north.
The fruits are grapes, melons, apricots, figs, cherries, pome- Fmits.
granates, quinces, pears, and dates, all of which are abundant
wherever the least care is taken to cultivate them. The pre-
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