'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.' [‎67] (114/905)

CHAP. IV.] KURDISTiN RANGE, ANTI-TAURUS.
67
only like a mountain of the second or third class, when seen
from the country about Bayazid; but when viewed from a The Kurdiatau
greater distance, the effect is truly majestic. From Diyadin, railge "
for instance, this monarch of mountains towers far above the
rest of the chain, to which it seems not to belong; although
it is, in reality, the culminating point of the whole system.
The first of the numerous chains which descend from thence
is the elevated range forming the back-bone of the Assyrian
mountains, which, with its principal ramifications, derives
importance from the circumstance of its valleys containing a
large portion of the inhabitants of the whole country. This
range, or the main ridge of Kurdistan, has mount Ararat at
the northern extremity; from the slopes of which it runs
S.S.E., between lakes Van and Urumiyah, and along the
western side of Azerbaijan, to the extremity of the province,
where it takes a southerly direction along Ardelan, and ex
tends as far as 35° north latitude. It is composed of red
sandstone, dialidge, and basalt, terminating in needle points
at a considerable elevation; 1 while its irregular, rocky sides
are partially wooded, and frequently form basins, or amphi
theatres. Numerous arms diverge eastward and westward
from this root; and between the eastern branches, which are
those already mentioned as traversing Azerbaijan, the waters
collected by the basins of the Araxes, Kizil Uzen, &c., are
conveyed into the Caspian Sea; whilst the others inclose the
valleys along the different tributaries of the Halys, Euphrates,
and Tigris. The contour of these western branches takes the
form of an acute triangle, having the apex westward of the
Euphrates, and the crests of the Kurdistan or Armenian The ^Anti-
mountains for its base; the sides being formed by portions
of the ranges of the Anti-Taurus and Taurus. Beginning at
the northern extremity of the space thus formed, it will be
found that two parallel chains run westward from the foot
of Ararat, at Bayazid, to Diyadin. Near this place, the
northern branch takes a westerly direction along the right
bank of the Murad su, as far as Kara Kilisa, where it curves
northward, by Deli Baba, to the river Aras, from whose banks
1 MS Journal of Mr. A. A. Staunton, R.A., on his return from the Expedition.
K 2