'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.' [‎44] (89/905)

44 THE FRAT BELOW THE JUNCTION. [CHAP. III.
gable; since, as we are informed by Mr. Brant and others,
timber is floated down them for the working of the mines.
Here the Euphrates assumes an imposing character, as it runs
south-westward, struggling as before, says Mela, 1 to make
good its original course towards the Mediterranean: it bears
indifferently among the natives the names of Frat or
Murad.
CMmurii su, T ^ e western branch, as will have been perceived, has
' alread y f or ced its way through that portion of the Anti-
iOKhmah su. rp "L • i t •
laurus which appeared at one time to offer an insuperable
barrier to its onward progress ; especially in the direction of
the Mediterranean. Below the ferry of Ma'den, where it is
120 yards wide 2 and very deep, the Tauric chain, against
which it still presses, forces the river to incline rather more
southward; and, at about 15 miles in this direction from the
ferry, it receives a tributary, called the Chamurli su (Mud
Water), coming from the west, through a narrow and well
cultivated valley; and again, seven miles farther on, another,
and still larger, called the Tokhmah su (Boundary Water) ;
which latter has been supposed to be the Kuramas, or Melas
of the ancients, and to have given its name to the district and
town of Melitene (Malatiyah). This stream comes from the
Gok Dille mountains on the slopes of the Anti-Taurus; it
flows past the town of Gurun, and is, on approaching the
populous and interesting town of Derendah, a considerable
stream. From the latter place its course is nearly eastward
to the Euphrates, into which it enters below the towns of
Aspuzi and Malatiyah ; near which it is suited for boats of
light draught. 3
Stpfe The town of Malatiyah contains about 2923 families, who
are accustomed to spend the five winter months only at that
place, and the remaining seven months at Aspuzi 4 After
receiving the Tokhmah su, at half a mile beyond the Eis
Oghlu ferry, the Murad enters the main chain of the Taurus,
and, after struggling onwards in various directions for about
1 Lib. III., chap. 9; and Pliny, lib. V., c. 24.
^ Ainsworth's Journey. See Vol. III. « MS. of Mr. Ainsworth.
Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, Vol. VI., Part II., p. 211.