"سرد لإقامة في كردستان وفي موقع نينوى القديمة؛ مع مذكرات رحلة إلى بغداد عبر نهر دجلة ووصف زيارة إلى شيراز وبرسبوليس." [‎٢‎٣] (٤٥٠/٤٦)

CH. XII.] CHRISTIAN CONVENT. 23
We still kept west through the plain, (the village of
Minkoube was above us on the banks,) with the river
on our right, which we forded at ten minutes after
eight. The depth was nearly the same all through ;
that is, about two and a half or three feet, just up to
my stirrups. The breadth was about three hundred
feet. It is now at its lowest, and is more rapid than
the Zab. In spring it sometimes swells so as to
cover the plain up to the banks, and is then unford-
able ; but it never remains at that extreme height
above a couple of days. It is said to rise a short
distance from Akra. The west bank, which we
came to alter fording, is not so high as the east, and
the country gradually auhsidca —if I may be allowed
the expression—into an immense plain, level as far
as we could see, and for the most part under cultiva
tion. The village of Zara Khatoon is at a little
distance below the ford*. From the river we pro
ceeded in a north- west direction, and at half-past
eight (N. 68 AV.) we brought Karatchuk in one
with Makloube, which it covered. Before we lost
sight of Makloube, we saw on its steep side, about
half-way up, the convent of Mar Mattei, or St. Mat
thew, a very celebrated place among the Christians
oi these parts. AVe observed likewise, on the top of
Karatchuk, the remains of a church. From the
Bumadus we advanced even more rapidly than before.
* 1 he Ghazir joins the Zab three caravans or two horsemen's
hours below Old Kellek. Just before its junction, on its west
bank, is the village of Eurdek.