'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.' [‎621] (716/905)

CHAP. XXIIlJ COUNTRY ABOUT MOPHAK. 621
the midst of majestic elm-trees, mingled withthe wide-spread-P^ti™ .r
mg tamarind. Onward is the village of Sarnfur, on the slope the di8trict -
of Jebel Harran, with the coffee plantations of D6rah and
Moihak; the latter is a village containing 50 huts and a
khan or simserah, near the crest of the mountains overlook
ing San a. This tract contains fine valleys and undulating
ground, enclosed by rugged hills, and mountains rising to 1500
feet above the plain. It produces wheat, barley, jowari, fruits,
indigo and coffee. The coffee plantations are usually small
spots of a square shape, enclosed by a wall to prevent the soil
from being washed away. The plant flourishes most in a
moist soil, in which it rises to the height of 12 feet. The
bean is gathered twice a year, and the two crops yield about
10 lbs. for each tree ; 2 the coffee is of seven different quali
ties, viz., Scheridji (the best), Ordemi, Mattari, Harrasi, Hab-
bat, Haimi, and Shirazi. 3 Connected with these productive
farms, there are numerous khans, here called simserah, 4 which
have the double object of affording accommodation and being
places of trade.
From Mofhak the bridle-road passes Suk-el-Kahmis, the Country from
village of Bowan, and the hamlet of Yazil, and continues to S8fir Udhein t0
El Hudhein. From the last village there is a gradual ascent
to the crest of the chain, where the hills form an immense
circle, studded with castles on the peaks, and numerous small
hamlets, with a small white mosque to each, on the sides:
the hills here are cut into terraces from top to bottom.
Beyond this natural amphitheatre a barren stony table-land
extends by the village of Motteneh to that of Assur, which is
situated at its eastern verge, overlooking the capital and its
beautiful valley. The latter contracts at its northern and
southern extremities into an ordinary wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. , that of Tank-el-
Yemen being its continuation towards the south. On the
west it is bounded by the table-land of Assur and Luluwah
1 Mr. Cruttenden, vol. VIIL, p. 273, of the Royal Geographical Journal.
2 Ibid., pp. 278, 279.
3 Hammer Purgstall, art. III., p. 139, on Arabia.
4 Probably from simsar, a broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. or valuer.—Vol. VIII., p. 274, of the
Royal Geographical Journal.