'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎49] (182/458)

MEMOIR ON THE “TIGRIS.” 40
people in lower Mesopotamia, and in the superficial examination thus
made, enough was elicited to excite a further enquiry, not only as to
their character, but as to their geographical position also. This latter
is, however my province, and though thwarted for the time, I hope yet
to assign to these antiquated places, a correct place on our maps, at no
distant period, and were excavations attempted, even on a small scale,
I have little doubt but a sufficiency of material would be brought to light
to repay both the antiquarian and Paleographer. In the meantime, as
my arrangements for the journey are made, I turn my steps to a less dis
turbed tract, which has also a high claim to our regard, for with it are
associated deeds of Military renown which after a lapse of twenty two
centuries and a half, tend to shew how the most adverse circumstances
in war may be successfully combatted by an indomitable spirit and a
strict Military system.
Beyond the interest excited by a consideration of the retreat of the
gallant “ ten thousand Greeks” the old course of the 1 igris is in itself
a picture—however deplorable, of the advanced state to which this
remarkable country, even in comparatively modern times, had
attained, though the tide of war, from the time of the greater Cyrus to
the advent of the lieutenants of Mahomed, had rolled backwards
and forwards in alternate success and defeat, and whether possessed
by the Mede, or the Parthian, by the Greeks—the Sassanians
or the Romans, the province, we find—when free from war -in a
highly flourishing condition, though perhaps not equally rich and
prolific as when under the mild sway of the Assyrian Kings. It has
to be the Arderricca of Herodotus “an Assyrian village situate between the sea and Babylon”
not the Anderricca of the Persian dominions mentioned in Erato CXIX. hut the place of that
name not'ced in Clio CLXXXV. It appears to he a compound name from Ard. and Erech
the former rendered either in the Hebrew or in the Arabic, would signify “land” or “province”
• i
yiX Ertz in the Hebrew and u° ) ’ arth in Arabic are literally the same as the “ Earth” of
our own tongue, the term being frequently applied also to peculiar districts or extent of country
the latter, the last syllable of the compound. ApftepiKa of the Greek text of Herodotus
inay represent the Erech of our version of the scriptures and the ®P € X of the septuagint.
iutto in his Bib Cyclop mentions that the name Erech, is thought by some, as preserved in
that of .Irak ^ the present denomination of the Country around Babylonia,
hut the great difference in the initial letter of the terms, the one commencing with the other?
would shew an inconsistency not usual in words of a Semitic origin.
«viim ant k*® ana tysis of the ancient mythology has a long dissertation on the name, the last
y able of which he assumes asidentical with the Erech of /Scripture though ignorant as to
val m ® amn g of the prefix syllable of the compound, or of the precise locality of this prime-
ity of man, see the eoncluding chapter of vol. II wherein also is displayed much ingenious
referen ce to the name in connection with the Apa\vy of the Greeks and th®
nne woven silks of Babylonia.