WEST OF THE EUPHRATES. 
307 
conferences, maintained our advance. By this cautious marching, 
we had leisure to observe that the movements of our appre¬ 
hended adversaries did not point immediately to ourselves, but 
to the very spot whither we were intending to go. As soon as 
we saw they had arrived at the Birs, which stood like an immense 
hill overshadowing their squadrons, several of our Arabs were 
dispatched to descry what they were, and their strength ; my 
commandant assuring me, “ there were none of the pasha’s 
warriors , save ourselves, on this side of the Euphrates ; therefore 
I must deem it advisable to proceed circumspectly, that we 
might not lose the advantage of distance in a fair start; he being 
certain it would prove that the enemy far outnumbered us.” 
Our gallop having gradually subsided to a walk, we were 
slowly proceeding, when in little more than a quarter of an hour, 
our scouts returned with the comfortable intelligence, that the 
apparitions of our dread were no other than the kiahya himself, 
and a numerous escort, who were now quietly disposing them¬ 
selves on and about the object of my expedition. On this 
news, several of my valiant troop scampered off like madmen, to 
join their comrades ; but for myself, since so strong an advanced 
guard gave us now absolute security, I followed with the rest of 
my party at a more moderate pace ; having come upon ground 
bearing marks to engage my lively interest, even to the foot of 
the Birs itself. During almost the whole of our ride, I had 
observed numerous spots on the plain, shewing the saline en- 
crustment usually found where buildings have formerly stood ; 
also a long line of broken bank on our left: but here, at about 
five miles from Hillah, certainly commenced the first western 
very elevated traces of former edifices, beginning with some 
considerable mounds, near to the remains of an old canal, 
r r 2 
