NORTH-EAST OF THE TIGRIS. 
429 
more probably, the ruined embankments of former defences 
against inundation. Another hour’s inarch released us from 
this disagreeable road, bringing us to a richly cultivated extent 
of land, where industry and animal life gave a delightful change 
from the former monotonous scene. Corn, cotton, and rice 
were sown abundantly; and the first was even then showing 
itself. The natives were occupied in all directions with the 
plough, preparing for a later crop. Sheep and goats were feed¬ 
ing on the pasture tracts; and woods of considerable extent, 
stretched along a hollow marshy chasm near to our road. In 
fact, the whole had an air of freshness and prosperity, so totally 
unlike all I had lately been looking at to the south of Bagdad, 
that I felt it a cordial to both eyes and spirit. At the expiration 
of another mile we crossed a small stream by a neat brick bridge, 
which brought us close to the village of Chubook. We thence 
came again on the shores of the Diala, and had a clear view of 
the far-stretching line of the Hamrean hills, while beyond, the 
towering summits of the Courdistan mountains became gradually 
more distinguishable. The country from hence, was treeless, 
but cultivated ; and we passed, on our right, a group of high 
mounds. I was now conversant in their aspects, and should 
judge these to be the remains of some ancient fortress. The 
surfaces of them all were covered with the usual fragments so 
often described ; they are called by the natives Tullivays. In 
about two hours and a half, we reached the khaun and bridge of 
Delli Abbas ; the latter crosses a branch of the Diala. Our 
road then lay due east for more than an hour, after which we 
came again upon the river’s banks, close to the village of Adna 
Koyi, where we were to halt for the night. It is a miserable 
place, more than half in ruins, but beautifully embosomed in a 
