1847.] Journal of a Steam Trip to the north of Baghdad. 317 



ed to a stream running nearly seven geographical miles per hour. I have 

 been many times aground both on the upper Euphrates and on this 

 river, but a worse position than this I scarcely ever occupied. The 

 shore was 290 yards distant, and the dropping of anchors in the stream, 

 from long experience, was known to be useless, as from the hard nature 

 of the bottom they came home with the slightest strain. After six hours 

 hard labour we succeeded in getting an anchor buried on shore, and a 



I think therefore we may fairly infer that, either the body of the apostate Julian, or 

 the funeral pyre in which it was consumed, formed the " Nucleus" oi this antiquated pile, 

 and that either his heart, or his ashes conveyed in an urn, received the " last honours of 

 Jovian and the mournful lamentations and clamorous insults of the hostile factions" on the 

 journey to Tarsus. The stately tomb erected to commemorate his virtues, on the banks of 

 the Cyduus, has long- ere this passed away ; but the imperishable monument of earth raised 

 by a devoted army over the remains of a beloved general, on the margin of the Tigris, 

 will endure for ages yet to come. 



For an interesting description of Yet Alij or Walij ah, consult Dr. Ross's paper on a 

 journey to Apis in the Journal of Roy. Geo. Society, part II. vol. XL act IX. p. 121. 

 He describes it as about 100 feet high, but I consider it at least 150. Its present singular 

 appearance may be accounted for, by subsequent rulers having fortified its summit as a 

 place of refuge from sudden attacks during the ever- varying and disturbed stages 

 which have swept over the country. 



The Arab tradition in itself, is not a little curious, and shows that a large body of troops 

 were employed in the construction of the mound. 



In Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Vol. 3d, p. 225, we find in a note that M. D'Anville has 

 demonstrated the precise position of Sumero, Carche and Dura. I have not M. D'Anville';* 

 work by me, nor am I acquainted with the situation he assigns to Carche. From my own 

 observations however, I am inclined to identify this spot with the position the Roman, 

 army encamped in, under Jovian, the night previous to its reaching Dur. The" lofty dikes 

 of the river" can be no other than the high embankments of the gigantic Mahrwan, and 

 by " the hills from which the archers of Persia insulted and annoyed the weary legiona- 

 ries." I presume it meant the high conglomerate cliffs which here bound the east valley 

 of the Tigris. These are diversified into a multitude of heaps caused by torrents from 

 the highlands forming deep ravines (" sequestered valleys" of Gibbon) on their passage 

 to the Tigris ; unless it be as I have premised, it is certain that no other" Hills'' exist with- 

 in 35 miles of this vicinity. The eye wanders over a vast and magnificent plain, relieve 

 ed only by the twin monuments of antiquity known as the Zellal Benat and Alij, which 

 in all probability, were not only erected by the distressed legionaries over the ashes of their 

 late Emperor and comrades, but remain to this day a sad memorial of the sufferings they 

 endured. 



The geographical distances of each day's inarch will be found to correspond with the 

 movements of a large army, aud the precise spot on which Julian fell must be looked for 

 about 10 miles to E.N. E. of the ancient Samarrah. The true bearings of the various 

 objects of interest in this neighbourhood will be found in another part of this Journal . 

 taken from the summit of the Maluryt-h, on the site of the ancient town. 



2 u 



