'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎83] (216/458)

MEMOIR ON THE “TIGRIS.'’
83
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ie first pious ej«
tion being placed over the apex of the arch, supported by the others
on either side. The building is enclosed within a square outer court,
bavin 0, cells in its walls for accommodation of the visitors.
Leaving Syed Mahomed, we next directed our course to the East
ward, towards some high mounds situated near the height spoken of
before ; about half way we crossed the bed of the Shatayt, which
extends to the SW. It is distinctly traceable, and must have, for some
time, held a considerable running stream. On gaining the mounds we
found that five large canals had diverged from the spot in ancient
times, the main one evidently the feeder coming in a perfectly straight
line from 31°. This arm was subsequently followed to where'the
great irruption of the Tigris severed it in two,* about a mile and a half
from this spot, its continuity being found on the opposite side of the
river directly derived from the Katul-al-Kesrawi, and is positive
evidence that the country now on the West of the Tigris, as far as the
modern Dijeil, was cultivated, in its fullest extent, by means of the
royal conduit of the above name, which indeed, contrary to my former
opinion, must have received into its bed the greatest portion of the
Tigris itself, otherwise the Katul and Nahrw&n combined could never
have supplied so many large veins, and at the same time have main
tained their own character, as artificial fluviants, of depth and rapidity,
through a country two hundred and fifty miles in extent. The
breadth and extent of these derivatives alone are very surprising, and
now impress me with a much greater idea than I formerly had of the
magnificent works designed by the earlier monarchs of Persia, so as to
reap the fullest benefits from the rich soil of the province.
Being now enabled to determine my positions from time to time, in
consequence of having known points in view, ascertained trigonometrical
ly in a former year, I was in a measure independent of astronomical
* The road-book kept exhibits the exact times from place to place, as also the bearings
taken and courses made in the intervals of times. These are not shown in the narrative, as
they tend to confuse, and at all times interfere considerably with the reading. The principal
points are noted in the Appendix, with detail of the observations made at them. The filling
in therefore is only shown on the map, to prevent prolixity on a subject which is always
more or less tedious; in fact, terseness in the geographical description of a country that has
seen so many changes, each partially marked on the map of nature, is almost impossible,
especially when such little incident is met with to relieve the monotony of wandering from
day to day, over a wilderness of ruins alternately varied only by arid and deserted plains.
The amount of desolation indeed, is the single source of interest, and to a reflecting mind
»s, in itself, a treasury of history which though hard to decypher from the feeble light with
which it is surrounded, yet calls for more than a passing remark of its superficial character,
which generally offers so much sameness as to weary the mind that attempts the description,
m the same way that the eye falls upon the monotony of the view.
•see Appendix P. for the bearings at these diverging canals.