'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.' [‎107] (138/450)

107
CHAPTER XVII.
The Sword of Yezid—Ruins of Ilatra—Our removal to another
Garden—Arabian Jessamine — Alkosh the Country of the Pro
phet Naluim— Jews to be trusted for local Antiquities —
Nestorian Convent of Mar Elias—Description of the Church—
Subterraneous Buildings—Matran Hanna, the Chaldean Arch
bishop—Principal Churches of Mousul—Singular Rolic—Hajee
Jirjees—Yezids—Tai Arabs—Mount Judi—The Ark—Sepul
chral Chamber of Nineveh.
December 26.—The Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to-day sent me a curi
osity to look at, which I had long heard talk of,
namely, the sword of Yezid, the son of Moaviah. It
is ol the proper Damascus or light-watered steel,
and prodigiously heavy. When it fell into the
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's hands it was straight; in short, a proper
single-edged broadsword, about four feet long, and
three fingers and a half broad. He had the bad taste
to cut off about a foot of it, and to have it curved
a little in the shape of a paaltt or sabre ; yet still it
is much too heavy for use. On the blade are the
remains of zer-nishan or inlaid-gold writing, the
traces left by which may still be read, though with
difficulty. They are—" This belongs to Yezid, the
son of Moaviah," and a verse from the Koran. The
mounting was modern *.
* Yezid, the son of Moaviah, was the second Caliph of the
Ommiade race. He is held in peculiar horror by the Persians,
o n account of the murder of Ali's son Hussein at Kerbela, the