'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.' [‎204] (263/905)

204
SUS. THE CHOASPES,
[CHAP. IX.
monarchs, 1 and was considered as the emblem of purity.
Susana was a name originally applied by the ancient Jews
The ancient to those daughters who were the most fair; and probably
from them the name was received by us. 2 Susan signifies
White Lily, and Susannah, My TV kite Lily ; the termina
tion ah being a feminine possessive pronoun. The capital
of this province was also called Memnonia, 3 from the sup
posed founder, Memnon : its walls were compared by Strabo
to those of Babylon, 4 to the ruins of which city those of
Sus have a very striking resemblance, even at this day.
Cissiana, the country of the Cosssei, is evidently part of the
Chus 5 of the sacred Scriptures, the Ethiopia of Moses; and
its name was derived 6 from Chuschi, an Ethiopian.
That the geography of the province was well known before
the time of Herodotus may be inferred from a passage in his
works, where it is said, that Cissia is watered by the river
Choaspes, on which is the city of Susa, and the palace of
the great king. It is added, that its waters alone were
thought worthy of being drunk by the monarch. 7
The river Choaspes and the country itself appear to have
been minutely represented on a brass plate, which exhibited
an outline of the whole earth. 8
SentifkTwSi r ^ e geographical position of the Kerkhah and the ruins
theKerkhah; of Sus, near its banks, identify that river with the Choaspes
of Herodotus, which some have supposed to be the same as
the Eulseus; this opinion, however, seems to be in opposition
to the distinct statements of Strabo 9 and Pliny. 10
We are told, that the son of Abutites met Alexander be
tween Babylon and Susa, and having offered the submission
of his father, he conducted the invader to the river Choaspes,
where the latter was met by the satrap in person, with pre
sents of regal magnificence.
1 Steph. Byzantinus, p. 679.
s Explanation by Mr. Colin Mackenzie.
3 Herod., lib. V., c liii., liv. * Lib. XV., p. 125.
5 Chuth in Chaldean. « See Chap. XII.
7 Herod., lib. V., c. lii. j and lib. I., c. clxxxviii.
8 Ibid., lib. V., 49. » Lib. XV., p. 726.
10 Lib. VL, c. xxvii.