'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎24] (67/905)

24
THE GREAT ZAB AND ROWANDUZ.
[CHAP. II.
10 miles westward of Rowanduz, where, being joined by a
considerable tributary, it suddenly sweeps round to the
BowlSz near W.S.W. This tributary, which, up to the recent visit of
Mr. Ainsworth, had been mistaken for the great Zab, is
formed by numerous branches springing from the slopes of
the Keli Shin and Kendilan mountains ; the principal of
these branches, the Sidaka, receives the others a few miles
north of Rowanduz, after flowing W. S.W. through a lime
stone bed. The united waters wind southward to that town,
and from thence, on being joined by the Rowanduz river, flow
W. and W. N.W. into the Zab; having previously, at about
two miles and a half below this remarkable strong hold of
the Kurds, received a river, which, flowing through deep
ravines and secluded dells, comes into it from the limestone
chain to the S.W., called Sar Hassan Beg. 1 The main
trunk now, under the appellation of the great Zab, winds
onward W. S.W. through the valley, and between the vil
lages of Kendil and Kasroki; about 12 miles below these
The^Akraand places, in the same direction, it receives the Akra (a tributary
from the N.W.), and, on the opposite side, the Bastorah
Chai. The course of the river from hence is nearly S.W.,
till it falls into the Tigris, short of which, about midway, it
receives the river Khazir, or .Bumadus, a considerable affluent
formed by the Ghomar Su and other tributaries, all springing
to the southward of Amadiyah. After this accession to its
waters, the Zab continues in the previous direction till it
enters the main river below Senn with a deep stream 60 feet
wide, and it forms at this place of junction a small pebbly
island. 2 About 12 miles below the confluence of the great
Zab there is a ford, which is opposite the saintVtomb called
Sultan Abdu-llah; 3 and about six miles lower, but on the
opposite, or right bank, are the hot springs and bituminous
fountains forming the stream called Kear; 4 below which
large forests occupy the banks for the next 20 miles. 5 At 13
1 Mr. Ainsworth's Visit to the Chaldeans : p. 10, Part I. Vol. XL, of the
Royal Geographical Journal.
At the ford above, on the high road to Mdsul, the river is 200 feet broad.
—Lieutenant Ormsby's MSS.
3 Ibid - 4 Ibid. 5 Mr. Ainsworth's MS.