'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.' [‎67] (94/450)

CH. XV.]
ALLUVIAL LEVEL.
67
The land appeared to be well cultivated, the people
were ploughing and sowing in many places, and the
face of the country was gently undulating ; in some
places slightly furrowed by water-courses during the
late heavy rains. At half-past one we passed, at
a little distance on our left hand, an artificial mount
of a long and narrow form, but not a hundred yards
in length. A ravine passed by and intersected our
road, which is, I believe, a continuation of that called
the Shor Dereh, to which the ruins of Nineveh may
have extended.
At ten minutes past two we observed the villages
of Baazani and Baasheka, both similarly situated just
under the line of hills which front Makloube, and
with extensive olive-plantations before each. The
level of the country seems to decline from this point
to near these villages. Kermelis and some other
villages, with artificial mounts near tliem, were
visible on our right; but the country did not become
that perfectly level alluvial-like flat that it is about
Kermelis, the undulations continuing on the right
and also in front, though rather less, and growing
more marked on the left. At this spot we saw
another artificial hill close on our left, which
seemed like one of those mounts that are the ordi
nary accompaniments of villages in these parts ; but
there was no village near this one.
We directed our course towards Baasheka, which
was to be our quarters for the night, and arrived at
F 2