616 Journal of a Tour through [Nov. 



mountain, ravine, and glen lay exposed to our glance ; but were 

 quickly obscured by tbe passing clouds. It was now easy to discover, 

 without the help of any barometer but that of our own feelings, that 

 we had reached a great elevation — a fact which was proved by the 

 successive risings of hill over which our road was directed. Still 

 ascending, we came to tbe extreme summit, from whence we saw 

 the city of Sulimaniah marked by trees in a nook of the mountains. 

 It appeared beneath our feet, although we were full ten miles from 

 it. In fact, from this lofty pinnacle, we seemed to descry at once 

 " all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them." Our descent 

 was one of extreme difficulty ; but our eyes were delighted with the 

 general aspect of the valley below, and the situation of Sulimaniah 

 at the end of it. The hills by which it was surrounded on all sides 

 were sufficiently broken in their outline to be picturesque, and the 

 plain which skirted them at their feet was clothed in the richest 

 verdure. The grain-fields assumed a lovely appearance ; the gardens 

 occupying distant portions of the valley, and a stream meandering 

 through it, gave such a luxuriance to the picture, as to unite beauty 

 with fertility, and wealth with usefulness. 



On nearing the city, a mound of considerable magnitude rises on 

 tbe left of the road, which nearlv resembled the tumuli of Greece. 

 It is not improbable that the spot may mark the tomb of some Greek 

 general. Many similar may be seen in Kurdistan, which nearly 

 resemble those in Wiltshire. Indeed, such remains of antiquity are 

 spread over the whole surface of the globe. 



Sulimaniah, or Sulimaney, the Shehrazour of the ancients, is most 

 romantically situated on the northern bank of the river Diala, in a 

 deep valley, irregularly formed by the bases of the Carducian range, 

 which, covered with forests of oak, and clothed in snow to its 

 summit, entrench it on every side. Its geographical position is 35* 

 30' north latitude, and 44° 45' east longitude. During the retreat 

 of Heraclius this city was distinguished by the name of Siazuros, 

 and not far hence was the city of Holwan, the retirement of 

 Yezde.tekd after the battle of Cadesia, a spot to which the Khalifs of 

 Bagdad resorted during the summer season. It was ruined by 

 HuiiAKO, and has never since recovered its consequence. 



Sulimaniah is an unwalled town : its houses are built extremely 

 low, which gives them a mean appearance, though doubtless they 

 are better secured against the snows and cold of this elevated region. 

 The streets are narrow, and run irregular ; and there are neither 

 good bazars nor fine mosques to relieve the dull monotony of the 

 common buildings. The houses are mostly built of unhewn stones, 



