'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎135] (170/450)

CH. XVIII ] FACE OF THE COUNTRY.
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no hopes of getting there. Between ten and eleven
the weather began to clear up, sufficiently for me to
get an observation for the time; and at noon I was
fortunate enough to get a great many circum-meridian
altitudes, all unexceptionable. Just at that time
some smoke ascended from the ruins of Kyara,
which enabled me to set it in S. 15 W.; it is said
to be five hours inland by the river.
About noon we got under way. Passing be
tween an island and the left bank, which was hiffh,
O 7
I observed a bed of concretion near fifteen feet thick,
resting on a basis of sandstone, in some places just
visible above the water. On the right bank the hills
Avere seen gradually terminating at a point called
Murshek, the burial-place of the ancestor of the
Albu Selman Arabs, marked by a rude monument.
About one we came to ruins on both sides of us,
the Karatchuk hills being visible in all their length,
about eight or nine miles off. The country was
hence very open to the village of Sultan Abdul la,
where the river becomes very broad. Soon alter
leaving Sultan Abdulla, the river seemed as if it had
once run more easterly, from the high and dry banks
which were visible, taking that direction.
We passed at half past three Mekook, an artificial
mount, with some mounds round it, seemingly like
Nimrod, but of less dimensions. The country here
was open, verdant, and level.
After crossing the Minshar, a rapid or breaker