330 Journal of a Steam Trip to the north of Baghdad, Afril, 



and poplar ; some of the latter have obtained to considerable size, 

 affording a precarious livelihood to the inhabitants of Tekrit, who raft 

 it to Baghdad for sale. After leaving Kharneinah our progress was a 

 little more rapid, owing to the fine southerly wind which continued till 

 sunset, when we made fast for the night at an island about three miles 

 below "ElTettha," or the " opening," where the Tigris breaks through 

 the hills. The latitude observed here was 34° 56' 57" and the northern 

 mouth of the Nahrwan bore N. E. one mile distant. The continuation 

 of the Hamrin on the west side of the Tigris, termed Jebal Makhal, 

 is now end on, and bears N. N. W. half W. The eastern ridge, or that 

 termed Jebal Hamrin, extends from a little above this point to the 

 eastward, and is an incongruous heap of barren mounds, composed of 

 sandstone and pebbles without a blade of vegetation. Both the Ham- 

 rin and the Jebal Makhul are alike in formation, and may be reckoned 

 about 500 feet high at this spot, though their altitude decreases as 

 they advance to the S. E. The rich plain at their base is in pleasing- 

 contrast with their desolate summit. During the night the river fell six 

 inches, Thermometer at 50° to 85° in the shade. 



April 13th. — Left at 5h. 45m. and not being favored as yesterday 

 with the south wind, advanced at a snail's pace to our wood, which we 

 reached at 7 a. m. It is cut in a small tamarisk grove just above the 

 mouth of the Nahr Haffu, and covered in with branches to prevent its 

 being fired by the Arabs. Here we remained wooding and despatching 

 answers to letters just received from Baghdad until Qh. 30m. Made a 

 fresh start at this time, but as I had anticipated, after receiving our 

 fuel, with little or no success, struggled hard against the stream, which 

 here breaks through the hills with much force, until 1 lh. 20m. when 

 we were brought to a stand-still without any hopes of accomplishing 

 our object, and on considering that our success hitherto had been mainly 

 attributable to fresh S. E. wind, and that obstacles of a much more 

 formidable nature than those we had encountered awaited us, besides 

 the risk we ran of grounding and eventual detention, should the water 

 fall after the high state the river had risen to, I reluctantly determined 

 on retracing our steps to Baghdad, and accordingly put the helm up. 



The last day's journey has been through a rich country teeming with 

 wild plants of nearly every description ; undulating slopes of an emerald 

 green enamelled with flowers of every hue are spread before the eye like 



