"بعثة لإجراء عملية مسح لنهري دجلة والفرات، تم تنفيذها بأمر من الحكومة البريطانية، في السنوات ١٨٣٥، ١٨٣٦، ١٨٣٧؛ تسبقها إشعارات جغرافية وتاريخية للمناطق الواقعة بين نهري النيل والسند. في أربعة مجلّدات. مع أربع عشرة خريطة ورسمًا، ومزينة بثلاث عشرة لوحة، بالإضافة للعديد من الرسومات بالحفر على الخشب. المجلّد الأول." [‎١‎١‎٤] (٩٠٥/١٦٣)

114
ANCIENT SITES.
[CHAP. VI.
Indeed, the Armenians assert that the Yezidi, or Izedi, are
descended from the ancient Syrians and Chaldeans. 1
Population. In addition to the Yezidis and other fixed inhabitants,
there is a very considerable population of the Shamar Arabs
and of the smaller tribes, who live almost entirely under tents,
and wander from place to place, as their flocks require pasture:
these, together with the residents of the towns and villages,
make an aggregate of about three and a half millions of souls
living near the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates. 2
The chief government is conducted according to the Turk
ish practice; but among the Arabs in the rural districts, the
patriarchal system prevails.
Ancient With regard to the comparative geography of Mesopotamia,
Geography. ^ nor | : ] iern p ar t } or the territory of the Mygdonians, accord
ing to Strabo, extends from the ancient Zeugma (Sume'isat),
in Commagene, to Thapsacus; and has within it the cities of
Nicephorius, Nisibis, Carrhse, and Tigranocerta. 3 It includes
within its limits the ancient city of O'rfah, the district of
Osroene, and the interesting remains of the cities of Seroug
(afterwards Batnse) and Haran. Fragments of buildings
scattered for some distance, at a spot 23 miles E. by S. from
Bir, indicate that the former was of considerable extent.
But the only objects of particular interest are two colossal
unfinished lions, at Aulan Tagh, about eight miles southward
Seroug. of Seroug, one of which was sketched by Lieut. Eden, Royal
Navy, who accompanied Lieut. Lynch in 1836.
The stone used is basalt; its extreme length is 12 feet.
1 Armenian MSS. collected during My Journeys in 1830, &c.
2 In this calculation, four and a half persons have been allowed as the
average for each family. 8 Lib. XYL, p. 747 ,