'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎95] (228/458)

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MEMOIR ON THE “TIGRISH gg
tioning ifcwas, however, elicited that but few of the Mnjummah had
been at its termination, owing to their never venturing for fear of
plunder beyond a certain distance of the protecting Dijeil, and in a
little time, by persevering in our queries, we found that but one old
man had traced it, on a hunting excursion after antelopes as he said,
to a distance of four hours from the spot we are in. As an answer
could not be received from the Dellim until the evening of the next
day, we determined on making a partial examination in the mean time.
The tribe readily agreed to construct abridge of wattles and earth
across the Dijeil, and a couple of the Sheikh’s sons volunteered to
accompany us on our examination, though the old fellow stoutly re
fused at any price to be of the party, saying that he was too inactive to
venture now on the Bedoin haunts, though he had laughed at their
beards pretty well in by-gone times.
March 27.—Leaving the dromedaries and instruments with the
more inactive animals, servants and tent, to proceed to the bridge at
Harbeh, where I proposed returning by the desert route in the evening,
we mounted, though personally suffering much pain, having incau
tiously reclined on a penknife which was placed open upon the carpet,
and thus received the entire blade into the sinews under the knee-
joint. Kecrossing the Alth and Mastansir canals we skirted them to
their junction with the Dijeil, the spot from which they emanate
being exceedingly high and affording a good view around. * To the
West there is no sign of habitation, nor a living being to be seen, but
the works of man lay extended as far as the eye can embrace. The
line of mounds running perfectly straight in a direction of 206° is
pointed out as the Chali Batikh, and is the ridge that has hitherto been
* The Dijeil canal here takes a small curve to the East, sweeping round a high mou d of
earth, which I have little doubt marks the ‘it*" of some position of antiquity. On it now stands
a M -homedan too»b, named, Khathr Elyas, one of the many of t* is name that have resting-
places noted in the country. I have little hesitation in pronouncing this quadrangular mound
as connected, perhaps in remote antiquity, in some way with the mounds of Jibbareh exactly
facing it on th c opposite side < f the old bed of the Tigris.
Refer to Appendix under u. for the bearings iaken on these elevated mounds which, an
ciently, were washed by the Tigris when it flowed in its old bed at their base. 1 shall a^ain
alluded to this spot in considering the position of the great d m across the Tigris.
The present name Chali Batikh is, in my opinion, a coruption for Chali Batikh. The
first word I am unable to give a derivation of unless the rampart and ditch resemble the
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Persian (S' ^ or hollow way made use of by weavers for placing their feet against when at
work. It is evidently a Persian word the latter term Batikh with the ignorant Arabs has,
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doubtless, usurped the less known, but expressive word - “a name generally in use among
Arabian authors for marshy and gravelly tracts of ground where waters collect from higher
lands and to this place strictly applicable, as will be seen when describing it.