'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎53] (186/458)

MEMOIR ON THE “ TIGRIS/*
same time, the species that have lain dormant during the winter, are re
animated. Man’s period of annoyance has then arrived, and it ceases
not until the end of October, In the short space of a few days he is
surrounded by every variety of insect, of which the common and the
stinging fly> are the most numerous assailants, in connection with myriads
of wasps and drones by day ; while at night, when rest is so much
needed, the mosquito and minute but doubly abominable sand fly, are
ceaseless in their endeavours to prevent it. Frogs and toads too, when
the rivers are unusually high, are very troublesome and hop, un
restrained, over every part of the summer apartments,* or “ Sardabs”
as they are here styled.
Leaving the broken walls of the town for the open country it occu
pied fifty five Minutes along a tolerable road, in reaching Kathemein,f
whose gilded domes and handsome minarets form objects of great beau
ty as they stand out in relief against the sky beyond, and high above
and in glittering contrast with the sombre date groves around them.
A nearer approach however displays the real character of the religion
and its votaries. The really handsome Mausoleum is encircled with the
bare and crumbling walls of wretchedly built houses, mostly of mud and
rotten bricks—that form the town which is inhabited by Arabs and
* The words of the Psalmist apply equally well to the lower lands of Mesopotamia, as to the
Delta of Egypt, in these respects, Psalm cv. v. 30. 31. The words are literally exemplified in
the present day, and though I have not enumerated the ‘‘wee” multipede of Burns’ lay and of
the Psalmist’s description in verse 31, still they too, are not wanting, but occupy an exalted
position in every native house, see algo Exodus VIII. « Sardab’* is a compound Per
sian term litterally signifying “ cold water” and applied to apartments under ground in which
ice is kept in Persia hence the application of the term to the inhabited cellars in use at
Baghdad and Mosul.
Iroam Musa al Kathem the seventh Im4m revered by the Shiahs .and his grandson
Mahomed Takithe son of Ali Kidha the 8th Imam lee entombed here. The Im&m Mhsa was the
grea great grandson of the ill fated Husseyn, the second son of’Ali, the son-in-law of the
V* T? e y* He was b . rou " h1 i to Baghdad from Medineh the place of his residence—
iii? f 16 v, Bartm—al—Rashid fearing that his presence in Arabia only fomented the exist-
r\v' roi y^ s A n( \ a ? as the Khalit’s suspicion increased, he caused him after some time, to be
p isonea by his Vizier Ben Khaled on this spot. He is said to have been generous and patient
Wf* endUr ^ C . e ot affliction j and was much revered as the faithful guardian of the history and
SLa m f 1 ^ 1 \ Unfortunate house * H i s ^ath took place in A. H. i53. His grandson
eavp v V• 1 ^ he Sharer . of llis tomb was 80 much esteemed by the Khalif Mamum that he
Baohd? 1 ml daughter in marriage and he afterwards accompanied, his father in law to
thotii relations of Hie Khalif however were not pleased at the step and it is supposed
Bao-hrin v ^ c ti m # to the existing hatred against his race, by being poisoned at
Klnlif’o / n u th year of his age. He was buried with the pomp due to his position in the
term- +v. ar c! i , ^ le s ^ e b * s & ran d father in the tomb of the Koreish as D’Herbilot
skrnifip- « e ^ e P u ^ cb ^ e at Kathemein—Vide Bibliotho. Orientl. tome II. “ Kathem” in Arabic
town ami i’ en fb ous , an d was the title of the Imam Mhsa. Kathemein the name of the Modern
ever u«;nqii 0mt) 18 , tbe dual of the term in reference to father and grandson ; the Arabs, how-
I aai toiri ?f e , , sin & l d ai ’ “ Al Kathem” only, when naming it. Tne Domes were last gilt
1 loia ’ b y the celebrated Nadir Shah.