'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎58] (191/458)

58
COMMANDER F. JONES.
$ Anabasis Spelman’s translation—Book II page 33.
direction of Zobeides* tomb, but it is said to be lost before it attains
to that distance, and tbe numerous offshoots, still well marked about
this spot —-on either side of the trunk stream, shew that in the neighs
bourhood it had reached to it's limit of irrigation, a small tomb stands on
it’s mounds about one mile S. E. of our position, and immediately to tbe
west of the Kathemein groves. We now rode along the bed of the old
conduit, which winds more than is usual with these ancient works. It’s
breadth is about 15 to 20 yards and the quantity of brickwork seen on
either side shews that it’s banks were well peopled by a fixed com
munity-many irrigants were fed from its waters—indeed, so numerous
are these they forcibly reminded me of the canals described by Xeno
phon, which the army crossed after passing through the Median wall.f
In ten minutes we had reached a similar lake to Ahweyneh but of
somewhat greater extent. The circular form and perpendicular walls
of these extraordinary hollows, mark them as the work of man—
probably in a remote age—but for what purpose unless as artifical adorn
ments to palaces that may have been erected on the sites it is dificulfc
to determine. Both Ahweyneh and this lake, which is named Serakha*
abound in fish, tortoise and the pecular fan-tailed turtle of the
Tigris, and seem to be of considerable depth, their diameter may be
150 to 200 yards ; a ruin of a very massive character, and certainly of
great age is seen on the East border of the Serakha lake, the old canal
that \ve have ridden along having been apparently led over it, for
digging through its bed exposes the structures beneath, which is built
of large kiln burned bricks embedded in bitumen, and indeed is the
only ruin in this country that I have seen which answers in it's cons
truction and material,^ to the detailed description given by Xenophon
of the Median wall.
I am not however going to discuss at present the often attempted
question of identity of the Fo Mrj^Las K.aXov[xeuov Tef^ov of the Anabasis,
but merely to state the existence of things as I find them, contenting
* The last resting place of the celebrated lady of the name in the Arabian nights.
f Xenophon Anabasis Book II—From thence fthe wall of Media) they made in two days
March eight parasangs and passed two canals. One upon a bridge, the other upon seven
pontoons. The^e canals were derived from the Tigris, from them ditches were cut that ran
into the country, the first broad, then narrower, which at last ended in small water courses
such as are used in Greece to water panic. Thence they come to the River Tigris
&c. at Sitaki.