'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎21] (156/268)

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BAGDAD TO CONSTANTINOPLE. 21
of the 4 Miskinta’ and his own cathedral. All are built of marble,
obtained at a comparatively trifling cost in the neighbourhood of
Mosul. The interior of the cathedral is well proportioned. It has its
two aisles and altars, and the centre archway and altarpiece are remark
ably handsome. It appears that these churches have communication
with those of Malabar, and are a branch of the Romish Propaganda.
The Telegraph Office is a good, roomy building, situated near the
Pacha’s palace. I have already remarked on the utter uselessness of
bringing the telegraph wires to Mosul at all. It is perilling the whole
line of telegraph to suit one man’s convenience. Were the station on
the other side of the Tigris a single wire might, if necessary, be sup
plied to the Pacha; but at present the two wires from Constantinople
and two from Bagdad are all dragged across the most precarious bridge
and ferry, tor no necessary object whatever, and at enormous risk to
our Indian communication, especially in the spring of the year.
27- Once the principal city of the Chaldeans in the low country.
Its towers and walls and ruined
Jezireh, on the Tigris. Moslem bridges are picturesque in
their way, but the place is unhealthy
and unattractive as a residence. I have no data of the number of inha
bitants, but should not put them down at 10,000. It is famous for a
striped cotton cloth, which may be used as the c LungP or waist-band
of Sind, or as a hat-turban. The Telegraph Office is a barn, and a
most unsavoury one, yet it appeared to be the best place in which we
could find accommodation. I was glad to leave the town after a day’s
halt there, and seemed to breathe more freely on attaining the summit
of the high land behind it, and overlooking the valley of the Tigris.
28. We arrived here at about 1 p.m. on the 17th June, an
intensely hot day, riding up a good road from the foot of the hill to the
gate of the town. From this point to the Telegraph Office our passage
was along a dirty, steep, and stony street. We enjoyed a cool breeze on
opening out the southern aspect of the hill, and a grand view across the
wide plains of Mesopotamia, comprising a vast extent of low, level
country so far as the eye could reach. Mardiu is picturesquely
situated on the slope of a limestone rock, the apex of which is
surmounted by a remarkable and ancient fort. The houses of the
town are solid, aud many comparatively good, but there is dirt and
disarrangement everywhere. The Telegraph Office is small, and most