'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from September 1850 to June 1852. Edited by the Secretary. Volume X.' [‎96] (229/458)

96
COMMANDER F. JONES.
considered by modern geographers as the Median Wall; but its ma
terials in no way answer to those of Xenophon’s description in the
Anabasis, being nothing more than a ramp or high dyke composed of a
hard pebbly soil thrown up on one side (the South only) from the ex-
cavated trench at its base. Its NE. end was originally connected
with the great mound on which the tomb stands mentioned in note (*)
of the preceding page, but the Izhaki canal, in a later age, has severed
the “ dyke” from the great ruin, in its course to the SE.
The Izh&tu itself of the ample dimensions of other ancient arteries
runs parallel in this part with the modern Dijeii, just above the con
nexion of the rampart and canal ; but while the Dijeii is led in a
curve to the East of the ruin, the Izhaki, as straight as an arrow, here
passes it to the West and traverses the country in a direction of 63®.
The alignments of a large town arealso seen in rectangular lines of white
mounds, now raised only a little above the level of the country, im
mediately to the right of the Chali. These mounds are termed
Khayt-al-Abiad by the present occupants of the territory, from their
white appearance. They embrace an area of considerable extent,
one angle of the walls just touching upon the trench of the Chali
Batikh. The appearance altogether points to the locality as being
formerly a very populous one. Our party, as far as its knowledge
extends, agree on its antiquity, referring the works to the days of
Nimrud, and in the desire to convey information—suggested partly by
their own ideas, partly perhaps by erroneous and simple traditions
not worth recording,—proclaim, in addition to a surprising ignorance,
an absence of all interest in anything relating to the history or the
common geography of the neighbourhood. As we scanned the coun
try around, we heard them even confounding the great rivers themselves,
by calling the stream flowing at their feet by the name of ‘ c Al-Frat,
the distinctive title of the Euphrates—nor afterwards, when corrected
on the subject, would they refer to it as the Dijleh or the Tigris,
habit having confirmed them in the use of the term “ El-Frat'’ though
when argued with, they readily enough acknowledge their error. The
source of this confusion is, however, easily seen, and is attributable to
the annual visit of theDellim and other tribes, whose territory is on the
* ‘■H'* Khayt Abiad “ white lines.^