'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.' [‎111] (144/450)

CH.XVII.] THE PROPHET NAHUM.
Ill
remarkable circumstance had escaped iny notice *,
until I was made aware of it to-day by Matmn
Haima. Alkosh was the birth-place of the Prophet
Valium, and also his burial-place. His tomb is still
iiown there, and Jews from all parts come on pil
grimage to it. Nahum was of a Jewish family, who
resided at Alkosh during the captivity of Nineveh.
On referring indeed to the Book of Nahum, I find
" Nahum the Elkosh-ite " in the first verse; and I
wonder this never struck me before, especially as I
read the Book of Nahum but lately, when thinking-
over the subject of Nineveh. I must here remark,
that the Jews are generally to be trusted for local
antiquities. Their pilgrimage to a spot is almost a
sufficient test. The unbroken line of tradition which
may have been handed down among them, and their
pertinacious resistance of all innovation, especially
in matters of religious belief, render their testimony
very weighty in such matters.
From Alkosh people go in seven days to Urmiah;
namely, two to Amadia, two to Julamerk, three to
Urmiah. From Julamerk to Kotchannes is one
,la y s journey. The Urmiah road does not necessarily
pass through Alkosh, but runs very near it. The ter-
ntory ot Amadia is full of Nestorians, Kotchannes
Marias, i n a letter to Busbequius quoted in Assemanni, speaks
0 f Alcus (Alkosh) as the country of Nahum the Prophet, and
celebrated both by Jews and Christians for containing his tomb.
Assem. vol. i. p. 525.