'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎145] (160/360)

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EUP
At 14 miles, and again at nine miles, above this celebrated Arabian
observatory, erected by Almamum, the Euphrates receives on its right
bank the Sajur, a considerable tributary, which comes from the Taurus, and
after passing at no great distance from the northern side of the ruins of
Membij, separates into five short branches, thus forming four islands as it
enters the principal stream. At 48^ miles below Kalat en Nejm, or 34
miles in a direct line south 8° west, is the castle, and near it the ruins of
li'alis, the Barbalissus of the Romans, once the port of the ancient Beroe,
and the P'thara of Balaam. Here the river seems finally to abandon the
struggle it had hitherto maintained to reach the shores of the Mediterra
nean, from whence it is distant 123 miles, and in the direction through
Aleppo to Suwei'diyeh, and 118 miles through the same city to Iskandarun,
the distance in a direct line south 70° west, being 101^ miles.
The course of the stream from Balis to the striking ruins of Jaber castle,
the Sela Midbarah of Benjamin of Tudela, is 29 miles, or 22^ miles direct
distance south 68° east. From hence, passing the ferry of Hammam,
the windings give 42 miles, or 26 miles direct distance, north 82°
east, to Rakkah, the river flowing through a fine pasture country,
having extensive Bedouin flocks feeding on its prairies, but no per
manent villages. A few miles below the deserted ruins of the city and
palace of the Kaliph A1 Mansur, the Belik, or Belity, pursuing a southerly
course, enters the Euphrates. This stream rises near Harran, at a spring
called A1 Dhahabiyab, or Dabencea.
Below Rakkah the hills are at a greater distance than before from the
river, which winds through the dense forest of Amran, and through a flat
country, which is generally well-wooded. After a tortuous course of 80
miles, or south 09° east, 44^ miles direct from Rakkah, the great stream
lorces its way in a most remarkable manner through the chain of hills
running along the western side of Palmyra, and from thence towards
Sinjar. At this spot, after flowing round a large wooded island, the river
makes an abrupt bend, nearly at a right angle pursuing its course in a
smooth channel, 250 yards wide, and seven fathoms deep, " between the
beetle-browed rocky precipices of Balbi." These rise abruptly to a height of
from 300 to 500 feet above the water's edge, and thus present for a moment,
but in appearance only, an insuperable barrier to navigation. At two and
a half miles below this range, the river passes between the two ancient and
deserted marble-built towns of Zelebi, or Chelebi, which indicate one of the
great commercial passages to Palmyra, at the period of the prosperity of the
latter city. From Zellebi to Deer, the distance by the stream is 57^ miles,
or 26 miles south 38° east direct.
At 27^ miles by water, and 18 south, 42° east direct distance below Deir,
the Khabur enters the Euphrates after a lengthened course.
Below the tributary just followed, the course of the Euphrates is south
ea«t, along the southern side of some ancient ruins, presumed to be
those of Dakia; it proceeds next to the little town of Maden, lower down
oil the opposite side, and near the ancient castle of Rahabah, or Rehoboth,
which is about three and a half miles to the south-west of the latter place.
1' rom hence the river passes onwards through a fine country, generally well
an( ? ra ^ ler hilly, but very thinly peopled, as far as Is-Geria and
> erdi, which latter is 75^ miles from the Khabur by the windings, and 45^
south 33° east in direct distance. Throughout this extent the river