'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.' [‎73] (100/450)

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CII.XV.] SYRIAN CONVENT. 73
mounted at tAventy minutes past ten and kept S. 84
E. along the foot of the hills. Soon after we came
to the little Yezid village of Ilajee Jo; and a little
after eleven, at the foot of the hills, we passed the
Yezid village of Koftin, where a great Peer or
Yezid saint resides. At a quarter before twelve
our course turned N. 20 AV. over the hills, near
their termination into the broken valley which sepa
rates them from Makloube. The convent from hence
had a formidable and inaccessible appearance. At
noon Ave reached a little spring fringed with some
dwarf oleanders. The bare and broken hills of sand
stone and limestone had put me much in mind
of some of the islands of the Archipelago, and the
oleanders strengthened the resemblance.
Soon after we passed the little ^ ezid village of
Meerik, shortly after which we began the steep ascent
of the mountain up to the convent, through the project
ing wings of the rock. The road, not a bad one for
such a situation, wound in short sharp turns up the
face of the precipice. Mrs. Rich rode the whole way
up, but the example was not followed by many of us.
At a quarter to one we reached the gate of the con
vent, the ascent having occupied just thirty minutes.
The convent has much the appearance of a strong
hold, being composed of two large towers, or build
ings resembling towers, at each extremity, united
indeed by a common wall. Had this curtain been
embattled, and the wall a little thicker, it would pass