'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎32] (57/450)

32
TOMB OF JONAH.
[CH. XIII
the room. It is exactly parallel with, and very near
the passage noticed before ; which appears to have
been continued into, and even beyond, this spot,
from some lines or traces seen in the ground, buti^
now broken down and laid open here. I doubt not
but many other antiquities might be found in this
mound ; but the greater part of it is thickly covered
with a labyrinth of small houses, and it is only on
the repairing or falling down of these that sucl
tilings are discovered.
From this we went to the mosque which covers the
tomb of Jonah *. It is on the north and higher end
of the mound, and is rather a considerable building.
The principal dome is ribbed and of a conical shape;
it stands on an octagonal base, eight feet each face,
which is again placed on a square pediment, standing
on the terrace that covers the building. The dome
is of small circumference, whitened, and crowned
with a spike. The terrace, or flat roof, is about
fifteen feet above the level of the mound on the soutli
side, but on the porth it rises forty feet by measure
ment above the mound, about thirty feet perpen
dicular height of which remains between the foot of
* There was formerly a Christian monastery where the pre
tended tomb of Jonah now stands, the Mahometan building
being erected over the church, which is preserved entire; but no
Christian on any account would be suffered to go near it. The
Christians named their church after the tradition that Jonah
preached in that place; but they deny his having been buried
there. They believe, on the contrary, that, after his mission waf
accomplished, he returned to Palestine.