'Routes in Arabia' [‎769] (800/852)

769
K oute N o . 202— contd.
At 2 hours 32 minutes the river changes its direction from
south to south -south-east, and hills begin on the left bank and
run along it. Near the first hill, called Hamiru, a strong smell
of sulphur pervades the air. On the right bank opposite, or a
little further up, and 1 mile inland is 'Araij (70 houses of Jibur
Arabs). The hills on the right bank are now nearly 2 miles
inland. On the right bank, o. a mile down from where we are
and some distance inland, is Qabr-al-'Abd (13 houses of Jibur),
On the left bank, I of a mile below us, is Safij (25 houses of Jibur.
1 on the hills on that side. An island on the right side of the
channel begins between ' Araij and Safij.
The right bank hills appear to be limestone, the left bank
hills at first conglomerate, changing later to limestone or sand
stone.
At 2 hours 48 minutes we reach the lower end of the island.
At 2 hours 57 minutes the left bank village of Hawi Arsalan
is passed (15 houses of Jibur) ; it is situated at the water's edge
below hills. There are islands now on both sides of the channel.
At 3 hours 13 minutes, on the left bank, is Little Hamairah
(50 houses of Jibur). Here the river turns to south-west.
At 3 hours 22 minutes is Great Hamairah (70 houses of Jibur)
on the left bank, \ a mile inland ; it belongs to one 'Abdul Jalil
of Musal. The river is still going south-west. Here the hills
retire from the left bank, leaving an alluvial stretch.
At 3 hours 31 minutes is the landing place, on the right bank,
for Hammam'Ali, which is 4^ hours by land from Miisal. It is at
the lower end of a right bank island and is marked by two dome-
shaped hills ; the larger of these, about 100 feet high, is called
Tall-as -Sabat. To the west by north, at 300 yards, is one
Hammam 'Ali village, to the north by west at 500 yards ia
another; the former consists of 50 houses of Lihaib and Al Bu.
Hamadi Arabs, the latter of 20 permanent houses inhabited by
miscellaneous Muhammadans and 7 or 8 shops. Five islands
are in sight, 3 upstream and 2 down ; and here the channel shifts
from the left to the right bank of the river. The site of Nimrud
and the Qarah Chogh hills are in line to the south-east. The
Musal- Baghdad road passes through Hammam 'Ali.
We visited the hot springs of Hammam Ali, which have a
great reputation ; people come from as far as Zakho in the north,
Kirkuk and Sulaimanlyah on the east, and Baghdad in the