'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.' [‎71] (118/905)

CHAP. IV.]
THE TAURUS OF STRABO.
71
lower, more rocky, and less continuous than before; and at The Mesopo-
Mardin the height of the limestone summit of Mount Masius tamian Tauru8-
scarcely exceeds 2300 feet. 1 The Baarem range, which con
nects it with Mount Judi, and also the rocky range of Karajah
Tagh to the westward, are a trap formation. Conical summits,
with steep sides almost deprived of wood, prevail as far as the
latter point; beyond which, towards O'rfah, there is a chalk
formation. Northward of this city, however, bold limestone
declivities succeed, the lower beds of which, at the pass of
Taurus, near Gergen Kal'eh, 2 are mixed with red sandstones
and conglomerates. From the eastern side, and a little
higher, the great arm of Anti-Taurus curves northward;
sending out inferior branches in the latter direction, and
continuing to diverge more and more from the Taurus, until
their opposite extremities are separated by that part of ancient
Assyria, which extends from the southern slopes of Mount
Ararat to the Zagros range, in 35° north latitude.
As the western branches of the Taurus are to be traced in
a subsequent Chapter, it is only necessary, with regard to the
mountains so called, to remind the reader, that anciently the
name had a most extensive signification. Following Erato
sthenes, Strabo says, that Asia Is divided from west to east
by this great chain; the territory lying northward of it
being designated by the Greeks, on this side of the Taurus;
whilst that to the southward was called beyond the Taurus?
The mountain chain is said to extend, in length, through Great extent
the whole continent, with a breadth, in many places, of 3000 ofthelaurus -
stadia; and from it the rivers flow in opposite directions, or
from north to south. 4 This great width, which is equal to
about 340 miles, indicates an extensive tract of country, such
as the plateau of Iran, rather than a mere chain of moun
tains ; 5 especially as it contained the Parthians, Medes, and
1 Mr. Ainsworth's Journey from Constantinople: Vol. X. Part III., p. 521,
of the Royal Geographical Journal.
2 Ibid., Vol. X. Part III., p. 332, of the Royal Geographical Journal.
a Strabo, lib. XL, pp. 491, 520, 522.
* Ibid., pp. 490, 491. .
5 Pliny says, it separates numerous nations, and divides Asia into two parts