184/.] Journal of a Steam Trip lo the north of Baghdad. 327 



E. Magnetic bearing of the same S. 24° 30' E. making the variation 2° 

 38' W. Tel Benat near Dur, 150°, Khan Jozani 148°, Arnin, on the 

 opposite side of the river, called Kamsah, 1 10,° opening in the Hamrin, 

 where the Tigris breaks through, called " El Tet'bha," 348-j 9 . A ruin 

 of an ancient nunnery termed Darel Benat* or the " Girl's Residence," 

 stands about one and half miles to the S. W. of the citadel. 



Having obtained observations*!* for the chronometer and despatched 

 a messenger to Mosul with letters to the Vice-Consul, and with in- 

 structions to communicate with Suffok, to whom I addressed a compli- 

 mentary epistle, we left Tekrit at 9-40, A. m. A new Pilot, or rather an 

 old one (for I believe he is upwards of 70 years of age) was shipped 

 for the river above this ; in fact he is the same individual who conducted 

 the Euphrates under Lynch seven years since. He declared after having 

 been on board an hour and witnessed the performance of the vessel 

 against the current, that she could not pass the rapids which the 

 Euphrates found difficulty "in ascending ; indeed, what he says I fear 

 will prove true, for our progress to-day has been considerably slower 

 than yesterday, and in many places amounted to almost a stand-still. 

 At 4-15, p. m. having along reach full of difficulties ahead and no 

 hope of passing them before night comes on, brought to an anchor in 

 the only secure spot to be met with in the neighbourhood. 



From Dur, the principal channels appear to be confined to the west- 

 ern part of the valley of the Tigris, but below that place the main 

 body of the stream attaches itself to the western cliffs. 



The latitude was observed this evening by a meridian altitude of 

 Dubhe 34° 41' 52", thus making our whole day's progress of 6^ hours' 

 steaming equal to 6' 7" of northing only. J 



would warrant the supposition. Three ancient edifices in the modern (own and a ruin 

 on the opposite bank of the Tigris, are thus designated. 



Since writing 1 the above note, I observe that Mr. Ainsworth, in his Asia Minor includes 

 Tekrit (Tageit) in his list of Chaldeau Bishoprics, Vol. II. p. 276, from a Catalogue pub- 

 lished by Amru in the twelfth century. 



The existence of Babylonian relics amongst its ruins, however, would refer its origin to 

 a date anterior to Christianity, but under what ampliation it was known by, or from 

 whence it derived its present name, I am at a loss to conjecture. 



* Probably a nunnery when Tekrit was a Christian Bishopric. 



t These observations place Tekrit 42' 16" west of Baghdad. 



\ A singular cave in the cliff forming tin right margin of the river, i- jusl below our 



2 x 2 



