'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.' [‎34] (77/905)

34
TRIBUTARIES OF THE DIYiLAH. [CHAP. II.
of their junction with the main branch; the Taj-rud comes
about S. W. from the plain of Shahri-zur, and the Salm nearly
S.E. from the neighbourhood of Suleimaniyah. They have
long been considered as the principal feeders of the Diyalah,
although their united waters scarcely amount to half of those
which form the AM Shirwan; and the latter, as we have
just seen, rises about 120 miles eastward. The main river
now takes a south-westerly direction, still preserving the
same name.
Below the junction of the Sulei'maniyah river, it receives
from the Zagros, on the east side, two considerable streams;
the first at 35 miles from that junction, and the second at
about 25 miles farther on.
The Abi Shirwan now runs nearly south for about 30
miles, when it receives the Holwan. This most interesting
river, as we learn from Major Rawlinson's examination, is
formed by two considerable branches ; the northern, or Abi
Holwan (the Elwan of Rich), 1 rises on the western face of the
greater chain of the Zagros, about eight miles north of the
pass called the gates of Zagros; and bursts at once into a full
stream, which is swollen by many copious additions as it
pursues its course nearly W. by S. down the romantic and
beautiful glen of Rijab 2 to Zohab; and onward to the remark
able ruins at the chasm and pass of Sar-Puli-Zohab. 3
After receiving at Mulla Ya'kub, six miles from the latter
place, the Abi-Derah stream, which flows from the S.E. past
the ruins of Dera, the Holwan pursues, a westerly course to
Kasri Shirin, 4 where it turns southward; and at a distance
of 10 miles farther in this direction it is joined by the
southern branch, called the Abi-Gilan, which comes from
beyond the village of Gilan, a distance of about 40 miles
towards the N.W. The direction of the united stream,
which still preserves the name of Holwan, is a little south-
1 Vol. II., pp. 261 and 263.
4 Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. IX. Part I., p. 33.
Called Pul-Zohab in the Journey of the Messrs. Staunton; and the Holwdn,
or Halah, by Rawlinson.—Ibid., p. 35.
4 Described by Mr. Rich, Vol. II., p. 264, &c.