'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎29] (54/450)

ch. xiii.]
29
CHAPTER XIII.
The Ruins of Nineveh—Village of Nebbi Yunus—Stones covered
with Cuneiform Writing—Inscription in the Wall of a House
—The Mosque of Nebbi Yunus—formerly a Church—The
Area of Nineveh—The Walls—The Mount of Koyunjuk—The
River Khausser—Another high Mount—Large hewn stones—
Bitumen adhering to them—Thisbe's Well—East boundary
Wall—Nadir Shah—His Encampment—Story of the dispersion
of his Army—Bridge of Boats over the Tigris.
November 8. —We have hud stormy weather since
our arrival at Mousul; easterly winds, and some rain.
This morning the weather cleared up, and the moun
tains to the north, called the Gara mountains, show
snow on some of their summits. That snow lies
all along this chain from one year to another, in
clefts and sheltered situations, I have no doubt; but
I am informed that some of these mountains have
snow on their open, exposed summits, all the year
round ; and I have so often heard this where it was
not the case, that I am now rather hard of belief.
They say here also that snow, if it lies a thousand
years on the ground, becomes the mineral called
Dehneh or Dehlij *, of which they make great use in
diseases of the eye.
* When I was formerly at Mousul, the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of that place put
into my hands the substance called dehlij, which name is not to
be found in any dictionary, not even the Kamoos. It is produced
in a gold mine in the mountains of Ilakkaie in Ivoordistan, which
are a prolongation ol the chain of Taurus, in various parts of