326 Journal of a Steam, Trip to the north of Baghdad. [April, 



Government of Bagdad a sum three times as large as that mentioned 

 by Mr. Rich. For 68,000 conl. Piastres, or a sum equal to about 

 .£600, it is farmed this year. The Hakim or Governor is Mustafa 

 Agha, an Agent or Vakeel of the proprietor, who resides in Baghdad. 

 I paid him a visit at his house, if such a wretched dwelling can be 

 called one. He received me very politely, and taking my seat among 

 the elders of the place, various topics were discussed. The Governor 

 paid us the utmost attention, and to show his breeding and knowledge 

 of the world before the motly assembly seated around, asked if I 

 preferred coffee after the European mode, with milk and sugar or 

 " Al'aral." Not to put him to any trouble, I mentioned the latter, but 

 he would not be gainsaid, and after many instructions and lessons on 

 the art of making it, his servants produced a tolerable beverage. Great 

 complaints are made by the Tekrith against the Government, and at the 

 present unsettled state of this part of the country. Fear of the 

 Shammar on the one side, and the Abeid on the other, have prevented 

 the townspeople from extending their cultivation to its usual limits, 

 and the consequence is, the rich land laying between Tekrit and the 

 Hamrin, is now a perfect waste. The inhabitants are all Mahomedans 

 with the exception of one solitary Jew, who is on the staff of the 

 Governor, and whose life is not to be envied. To the question of what 

 have you in Tekrit ? " One barren date tree and an infidel Jew," was 

 the reply. 



During the night obtained a meridian altitude of a Scorpii from which 

 I deduced the latitude 34o 35' 45" N. ; and from the citadel* I obtained 

 the following bearings. True bearing of the tomb at Dur S. 27° 8' 



* I have searched in vain for any ancient notice of Tekrit. Naturally strong' and rendered 

 in a measure impregnable by artificial works whose remains are still plainly distinguish- 

 able, it is not a little curious that it has as yet, I believe, remained unidentified with 

 some of the strongholds of antiquity. Both Rich and Fraser, though frequently men- 

 tioning it in connection with the geographical description of upper Mesopotamia, fail to 

 attach any historical record to this locality. In an old atlas I observe Birtha is marked 

 as situated on this spot and having- no works in my possession that allude to it, I am 

 compelled unwillingly to remain in ignorance. Birtha is however generally regarded 

 as identical with the modern Bir, or Birehjik, a small town occupying- an ancient site 

 on the upper Euphrates ; and the near resemblance of the ancient to the modern name 

 would seem to justify the conclusion. 



I am inclined to regard it as having been at one time a Christian town. The Arabs 

 have a tradition to that effect, and the term " Khanisah" only used to denote a " church," 



