'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.' [‎48] (93/905)

48 JABER, THAPSACUS, RIVER BELIK, ETC. [CHAP. III.
Ruins of Balis, as it enters the principal stream. At 48|- miles below Kal'at
en Nejm, or 34 miles in a direct line S. 8° W., is the castle,
and near it the ruins of Balis, the Barbalissus of the Romans,
once the port of the ancient Beroe, and the P'thora of Balaam. 1
Here the river seems finally to abandon the struggle it had
hitherto maintained to reach the shores of the Mediterranean,
from whence it is distant 123 miles, in the direction through
Aleppo to Suweidiyeh, and 118 miles through the same city
to Iskanderun; the distance in a direct line, S. 70° W., being
101^- miles.
directiwf of the Tlle course of the stream from Balis to the striking ruins
Euphrates. of Jaber castle, the Sela' Midbarah of Benjamin of Tudela, 8 is
29 miles, or 22^ miles direct distance S. 68° E. From hence,
passing the ferry of Hammam (the ancient Thapsacus), the
windings give 42 miles, or 26 miles direct distance, N. 82° E.,
to Rakkah ; the river flowing through a fine pasture country,
having extensive Bedouin flocks feeding on its prairies, but
no permanent villages. A few miles below the deserted ruins
of the city and palace of the Khaliph A1 Manstir, the Belik,
or Belitz, pursuing a southerly course, enters the Euphrates.
River Belik. This stream rises near Harran, at a spring called A1 Dhaha-
biyah, or Dabencea. 3
Eup r hrate f s the Below Ra kkah the hills are at a greater distance than
below Rakkah. before from the river, which winds through the dense forest
of Amran, and through a flat country, which is generally
well wooded. After a tortuous course of 80 miles, or S. 69° E.,
441 miles direct from Rakkah, the great stream forces its
way in a most remarkable manner through the chain of hills
running along the western side of Palmyra, and from thence
towards Sinjar. At this spot, after flowing round a large
wooded island, the river makes an abrupt bend, nearly at a
right angle, pursuing its course in a smooth channel, 250
yards wide, and seven fathoms deep, "between the beetle-
browed rocky precipices of Balbi." 4 These rise abruptly to
1 Pethor, Numbers xxii. 5.—See Benjamin of Tudela, by A. Asher, Vol. I.
pp. 88, 89; London and Berlin, 1840. 2 Ibid., p. 89 '
Golden. Abu-l-fedd,, Mr. Rassam's translation.
4 Report on Steam Navigation to India, 1834.—Appendix, p. 14.