'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.' [‎149] (184/450)

CH. XVIII.]
TUMULI, &C.
149
with a lew date-trees and a garden or two, and
marked by a ziyaret, or place of pilgrimage, with
a cone-like spire over it Behind the town, at a
little distance, is a very large ancient mount.
A few minutes alter we passed Hheimra, there is
a zikr, or obstruction in the river, but not extending
far from the left bank. The natives say it is artifi
cial ; but I could only see some lumps of concretion,
which had every appearance of being natural. Just
below Hheimra is another zikr, or obstruction, called
Ruweiahh. The river has fallen about two feet.
At a place called Tel el Meheji, on the right
bank, very considerable tumuli are observable, but
they are some way inland. Alabeid and other petty
Arab tribes were encamped there, who pay tribute
to the Sheikh of Khernina, Ali'l Fadhah. On the left
the people of the kellek pointed out to me a nahar
or small stream, said to have been a canal dug by
King Solomon, and to go as far as Howeiza. They
say there is a bridge not far off, over it, of stones
cramped with lead, and a similar one over the Ad-
haym. It looks only like a natural ravine among
under Jovian, they are described as pitching their tents near the
city of Dura, four days after the death of Julian. Here, too, a
part of the army, in the silence of the night, swam the Tigris ; and
the success of this trial. Gibbon says, " disposed the Emperor to
listen to the promises of his architects, ■who proposed to construct
a floating bridge of the inflated skins of sheep, oxen, and goats,
covered with a Jloor of earth and fascines." —Decline and Fall of
the Roman Empire, vol. iv., p. 208.