"سرد لإقامة في كردستان وفي موقع نينوى القديمة؛ مع مذكرات رحلة إلى بغداد عبر نهر دجلة ووصف زيارة إلى شيراز وبرسبوليس." [‎٣‎٥] (٤٥٠/٦٢)

CH. XIIT.]
PYRAMUS AND TIIISBE.
35
long, extending a little way south of Nebbi Yunus.
On the river, or west side, there are only remains of
one wall, and I observed the same at the north and
south extremities ; but on the east side there are the
remains of three walls. The west wall appears to
have run a little in front of Nebbi Yunus. Between
it and the river the ground is subject to frequent in
undations and changes; but it has not interfered
with the area.
In this place I cannot help remarking a passage
in Jonah ; that Prophet suffered grievously from the
easterly wind. This is the aherki so much dreaded
in all these countries, which is hot, stormy, and sin
gularly relaxing and dispiriting # .
November 10.—I was obliged to call on the Pasha
yesterday, and therefore could not go over to Nineveh;
but we set off this morning at ten o'clock, although
the day was not quite so favourable for observation
* Among the many recollections suggested by a survey of the
ruins of Nineveh, the beautiful tale of Pyramus and Thisbe is cer
tainly not the least interesting. It is most likely derived from an
Oriental story; and if this be the case, Pyramus will be Bahram,
which is commonly rendered in Latin Varamus. I am not well
enough acquainted with ancient female names to say what Thisbe
may be ; but the whole story has a local air", which makes me
think it was not wholly the invention of the Roman bard.
The only ancient writers who tell this story are Ovid, Met. iv.
55, and Hyginus, and both make Babylon the scene of it. Mr.
Rich has been led, doubtless by the " busta Nini" of Ovid, the
' Ninus's 1 omb " (Mids. Night's Dream), to suppose the true
locality to be where, as he believed, that tomb was really to be found,
viz., at Nineveh. See his Second Memoir on Babylon, pp. 38.'
192.— Communicated by a friend to the Ed.
D 2