1847.] Journal of a Steam Trip to the north of Baghdad. 331 



a rich carpet, at every turn of the stream, and nothing is wanting but 

 the hand of man to turn such a profusion of nature's gifts to account. 

 But all is a vast solitude. The silence is unbroken except by the rush- 

 ing of the torrent past, the time-eroded cliffs, or by the screech of an 

 owl, awakened from his lethargy by the flap, flap, flap of our paddle 

 wheels. When Mr. Rich passed this spot some 20 years' ago, all was 

 bustle and activity. Arab tribes were located on the banks of the river, 

 and the beautiful islands, rich in their spring garments, formed the 

 abode of the peaceful cultivator. The ruthless Shammar have since 

 then, by the weakness of the Government, spread devastation wherever 

 they pitched their tents, and, thinned by the plague which assailed the 

 Pachalic in 1831, the former population have been obliged to flee to the 

 more secure districts in the neighbourhood of Kerkuk. 



The rapidity with which we are now descending after our hard strug- 

 gle upwards, appears to gain fresh impetus at every mile. Rocks and 

 islands, steep cliffs and shingle banks, quickly succeed each other. Cattle, 

 tents, and men are reached in a single hour, and the silent desolation of 

 yesterday is exchanged for the noise and activity of animated nature. 

 The following places were passed at the respective times found opposite 

 to them, viz. Khan Kharneinah OOh. 52m. Place anchored at on the 

 evening of April 11th, Ih. 15m. Kaleh Reyyash lh. 30m. Reached 

 Tekrit at 3h. 20m. p. m. thus performing the descent in 3h. 50m. 

 which had occupied us 30 hours steaming on the journey upwards. 

 Between Abdel Kerim and Kaleh Reyyash, a small stream or torrent 

 fall into the Tigris on the left bank. It is named Nahr Milha, and is 

 said to be of considerable size during the winter months, when swollen 

 with the torrents from the Hamrin range. 



April lAth. — Reached Samarrah* at 9h. 9m. a. m. Remained here 

 during the day to make arrangements regarding the despatch of our 

 overplus fuel to Baghdad by raft. 



In the evening visited the Maluryah, from its summit I obtained the 

 following true bearings as deduced from magnetic by a prismatic com- 

 pass. Minaret or tomb of Imam Mahomed Dur at Dur 342° 45' ; Khan 

 Tholush 119° 30' ; Khan Mazrakji 132' ; El Ghaim, tower at the entrance 

 of the south branch of the Nahrwan, 1G5° 30'; ruins of Ashik, on the 



* By good observations for latitude and longtitude, I place Samarrah in 34° 11' 

 33" North, and 32' west of Baghdad. 



