'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.' [‎90] (119/450)

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CHALDEAN CONVENT. [CII. XVI.
by Chaldeans, was before us, a little way up the foot
of the mountain ; and on the right of it, about a mile
higher up, in a rocky defile or opening in the moun
tains, was the Chaldean convent of Rabban Hormuzd,
whither we were journeying, and which from this
spot wore a most imposing appearance. Nothing was
clearly distinguishable but a heavy square building of
a dusky red colour, hanging quite over a precipice,
like some Lama pagoda. The dark clouds rolled
over the summit of the mountain almost down to the
convent, and greatly increased the gloominess ol its
aspect and its apparent height. We seemed to be
retreating from the world and entering on some
wild and untried state of existence, when we found
ourselves in the rocky strait by which it is ap
proached. The situation appeared to be well chosen
for devotion, but devotion of a savage and gloomy
character. The hills gradually rose very soon alter
the slope had terminated. An immense torrent,
now dry, had brought down prodigious fragments of
rock. Keeping along its edge, we reached at eleven
the entrance of the defile, along a rocky and rough
road. This defile expands and scoops out the moun
tain into a kind of wild amphitheatre, in which, not
half way up, the convent is situated. It was only the
latter part of the road which was very steep. The
red building we had seen from afar was part oi
a church, or rather churches, there being several
together. All the amphitheatre, from the top to the