Chap. 31.] ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, ETC. 75 



five; from the Bed Sea, by way of the Tigris, two hun- 

 dred and twenty ; and from Zeugma, seven hundred and 

 twenty-three, miles. Zeugma is distant from Seleucia 48 in 

 Syria, on the shores of our sea, one hundred and seventy-five 49 

 miles. Such is the extent of the land that lies in these parts 

 between the two seas. 50 The length of the kingdom of Parthia 

 is nine hundred and eighteen miles. 



CHAP. 31. THE TIGRIS. 



There is, besides the above, another town in Mesopotamia, 

 on the banks of the Tigris and near its confluence with the 

 Euphrates, the name of which is Digba. 51 (27.) But it will be 

 as well now to give some particulars respecting the Tigris 

 itself. This river rises in the region of Greater Armenia, 52 

 from a very remarkable source, situate on a plain. The name 

 of the spot is Elegosine, 53 and the stream, as soon as it begins 

 to flow, though with a slow current, has the name of Diglito. 54 

 When its course becomes more rapid, it assumes the name 

 of Tigris, 55 given to it on account of its swiftness, that 

 word signifying an arrow in the Median language. It then 

 flows into Lake Arethusa, 56 the waters of which are able to 



48 Near Antioch and the Orontes: now Seleukeh, or Kepse, near 

 Suadeiah. 



49 See B. v. c. 13. 



50 The Mediterranean and the Red Sea ; the latter including the mo- 

 dern Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. 



61 Forbiger is of opinion that this is the same as the Didigua or Didugua 

 of Ptolemy. It was situate below Alpamea. D'Anville takes it to be the 

 modern Corna. 



52 The modern Turcomania. 



53 Now known as the Plain of Chelat, according to Parisot, extending 

 between Chelat, a city situate on a great lake and the river Rosso, falling 

 into the Caspian Sea. 



54 Called Diglith by Josephus. Hardouin states that in his time the 

 name given to the river by the natives was Daghela. This name is also 

 supposed to be another form of the Hiddekel of Scripture. See Genesis 

 ii. 14. 



55 According to Bochart, this was a corruption of the Eastern name 

 Deghel, from which were derived the forms Deger, Teger, and ultimately 

 Tigris. 



56 Ritter has identified this with the modern lake Nazuk, in Armenia, 

 about thirteen miles in length and five in breadth. The water at the pre- 

 sent day is said to be sweet and wholesome. 



