'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.' [‎402] (437/450)

402
JASSEM BEY.
[APP. VII.
the 21st there was quite a hard gale from the same quar
ter, with occasional variations to the E, We were obliged
to strike our yards and topmasts. The gale lasted, with
undiminished violence, till about 5 h in the morning of the
22nd, when it became squally and rainy.
At ll h , a.m ., the wind shifted to the N.W., whence it
blew hard till about 6 h p.m ., when it moderated, and we got
under way. At 8 h 30 m there was a violent squall from the
N.W., which, however, soon passed away, but at 10 u , the
weather bearing a very variable appearance, we brought
to for the night, and got under way a^ain at G h a.m . of
the 23d.
At L u p.m . we passed Jumbul, which is now so com
pletely covered with water, as well as the island near it,
that a vessel of twice our size, according to the pilot, could
sail over it.
I heard here that Jassem Bey and the Arifa Arabs have
taken possession of the banks of the river, and are prepared
to resist any troops the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. may send against them. We
passed a few tents of the Greish Arabs on the western, and
Shumars on the eastern banks of the river. About 3 h in the
afternoon it began to blow very hard again from the N.W.,
and we were compelled to cross over the river to get the
weather shore on board. On the 25th the wind abated.
About 4 h p.m . we saw at some distance in the rear, on the
W. bank, something like a minaret, which is said to be
ancient. I found we had passed it in the night. Soon
after we came to an island, now almost covered with water,
on which not long ago a large lion was seen. At S' 1 we
entered a reach of the river called Dokhala, and about 4 h
in the morning we were detained a little by a sand island,
which obliged us to bring to till we had sounded the
passage.