1847-] Journal of a Steam Trip to the north of Baghdad. 311 



sued a S. E. direction, meeting the branch from El Ghaim which 

 flowed in a more easterly direction, a little above the junction of the 

 Atheim with the Tigris. From this spot they became one united 

 stream, considerably more elevated than the surrounding country, and 

 pursuing an uninterrupted course to the S. eastward over the "Atheim," 

 the Diala and the present bed of the Tigris, it formerly fertilized the 

 immense plains of Irak by its many ramifications to the neighbourhood 

 of the Persian Gulf, and opening* to the south of El Ghaim, I have since 

 heard is a duct of this splendid work. In March 1843, I visited the 

 spot marked out as the junction of the two larger branches, where the 

 remains of a " sid" or " band, 5 ' still exist. A town must also have 

 stood on this site formerly, for the ground was strewed with the remains 

 of buildings, glass and pottery. — Opis is represented by some to have 

 occupied this position, but I hardly think that opulent city could 

 have left no further traces of its existence than the insignificant remains 

 to be here met with at present. 



From El Ghaim to Samarrah the ascent of the river is very difficult. 

 The fall or inclination of the surface of the stream is plainly distin- 

 guishable to the eye opposite to El Ghaim j a single fall took us 40 

 minutes to overcome, and I fear, had we not been assisted with a 

 westerly wind which enabled us to make sail, our further progress 

 would have been stopped. 



Reached Samarrah, f April 6th, at 7 a. m. and remained until 9-35 

 to arrange about our fuel, I did not however receive any more on 

 board as the vessel is already much too deep, purposing to use coal to 

 the next station at Diir, when the fuel we have at present on board is 

 finished. 



The modern town of Samarrah, situate on the cliffs forming the left 



nally caused by its own decline, surround it in every direction, converting- this once lux- 

 uriant and highly cultivated province into hot beds of malaria and fever. Its dry bed 

 is now used as a high road by travellers and caravans on account of the protection af- 

 forded in the recesses of its mutilated banks, from any of the numerous parties who may 

 be out in search of plunder. 



* Sidet Aziz. See note, page 305. 



t In the ninth century Sumere or Samarrah became with a alight change of name, 

 the royal residence of the Khalifs of the house of Abbas. Gibbon, Vol. 3, p. 225. 



The Roman army under Jovian encamped here after marching and fighting a lony 

 summer's day.— Ibid, 



2 y 2 



