'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.' [‎140] (175/450)

140 MOUTH OF THE LITTLE ZAB. [CH. XVIII.
Khanuza mountain, which is like the principal trunk
of the Hamreen in every respect, except that it ser
pentines more, the Hamreen being pretty straight
in its course.
I observed here a very curious bank which had
been cut down by the river, and in which were very
plainly defined, first a horizontal layer of pure soil
above four feet thick ; secondly, a bed of concretion
about eight feet; and under all, inclined strata of
sandstone, about ten or twelve feet to the waters
edge.
We tied up for the night, at about half past four
in the afternoon, on the right bank, and just opposite
the mouth of the little Zab; on the banks of which
was a large encampment of Alabeid Arabs, under
their chief, Hassan Ali. Near us was a little jungle
of brushwood, the grass around which was enamelled
with wild flowers.
The west bank of the Zab was formed by hills, on
which were the tombs of some Arab Sheikhs, and
these are the same hills which for the last twenty
minutes had formed the left bank of the Tigris. On
the east bank of the Zab the country is quite flat
and open.
March 7. — We got under way at about half
past five in the morning, the wind blowing hard from
the south. At six we came to a rapid and whirlpool
much dreaded by the kelleks, called Kelab, or the
nook ; and a few minutes after, we reached the termi-