430 Scientific Intelligence — Geography. 



GEOGRAPHY. 



7. Expedition up the Euphrates, — A vessel belonging to a leading 

 firm at Liverpool was sent to sea under sealed instructions, about 

 eighteen months ago, having on board two iron steam-boats, and other 

 cargo of a similar unusual description. The destination of the vessel, 

 as now appears, was the Persian Gulf, the steamers having been 

 constructed by order of the East India Company to act as a flotilla 

 for ascertaining the navigability of the river Euphrates. The expe- 

 dition has been highly successful, having traversed the course of the 

 stream 1100 miles from its mouth. The following are extracts from 

 a private letter dated " Belis, June 6," written by Mr Floyd, the 

 surgeon of the flotilla, and brought by the last overland conveyance : 

 — '* I am now near Aleppo with the flotilla, having completed the 

 ascent of the river Euphrates, without doubt one of the noblest rivers 

 in Asia ; here, at a distance of 1000 miles from its embouchure in 

 the Persian Gulf, it is 400 yards broad, and very deep. The 

 Euphrates differs little from the Tigris up to Hilla, a Turkish Arab 

 town, built near the site of ancient Babylon, except that its banks are 

 much better cultivated, and in some the date-tree (the Palma dactili- 

 ferus) adds to the picturesque meanderings of the river ; while in 

 others, a mosque, with its lackered dome rising from a group of wil- 

 lows, is a pleasing variety from the monotony of the surrounding 

 district. The river is enclosed within a valley of high rocks, which 

 extends from its source to below Hit. They are composed of gypsum, 

 sandstone, and conglomerates with mica and feldspar. This climate 

 is delightful, and produces all the varieties of European fruit, be- 

 sides many of the tropical ones lower down the river. The only 

 obstacle to the navigation of this river consists in the remains of the 

 water-wheels used for irrig'ation. In the short space of 130 miles 

 we found nearly 300 of these wheels, about one-third of which are in 

 operation at the present day. They consist of large parapet walls 

 built into the stream, directing the current of the river to the wheels, 

 which are the most clumsy piece of mechanism, made of branches of 

 trees, and have slung round them l50 clay vessels to raise the water 

 in. The wheels are forty feet in diameter, placed at the end of an 

 aqueduct raised upon well-built Gothic arches. It is surprising the 

 quantity of water they raise to the surface. They cause a current 

 of six or seven knots, with a fall of two or three feet where they are, 

 so that this part of the river is difficult, and somewhat dangerous. 

 The Tigris to Mosul, the site of the ancient Nineveh, and the 

 Euphrates to Baulus — I might say to the heart of the Taurus (for 

 we may go higher) — is now proved navigable." — Liverpool Times — 

 Athcncewn, No. 721, p. 654. 



