ROUTE OF THE RED HILLS. 
443 
than its naphtha springs. It is now part of the eastern territory 
of Russia. 
On our return from Baba Gurgur to Kirkook, in passing 
along the rugged summits of several close lines of this range of 
hills, we observed innumerable spots of native sulphur, and a 
great many pools sharing its properties, which might be con¬ 
verted into excellent medicinal baths. At half-past eleven in 
the forenoon, I joined my baggage not far from the town. The 
river which washes its walls, first bears the name of the Sircossar, 
then takes that of Kirkook, under which title it meanders west¬ 
ward for nearly fifty miles, till it joins the Little Zab ; and so 
united, soon after falls into the Tigris at Senn. Hitherto, from 
those shores to the banks of the Kirkook, we had only been 
travelling the comparatively tameable hills and vales of Old 
Assyria ; the eagle fastnesses of the equally ancient Carduchians 
were yet to be explored ; and we now seriously commenced our 
mountain-journey. Immediately on leaving the suburbs of the 
town, we began to ascend the rocky country, which brought us 
gradually to the summit of its highest point, called Khy Beer 
Dagh. This range of hills divides the government of Kirkook 
from the plain of Altonkupri, an irregular tract, watered towards 
its northern part by the same stream which has previously 
flowed past Arbille, the ancient Arbela of Alexander’s victory. 
We marched in a direction S. 70° E. over the undulating ground 
of the plain for nearly an hour, when we recommenced a second 
chain of heights, and more lofty than those of the Khy Beer 
Dagh. These were indeed the Land of Edom I had descried 
some months before from the top of Mount Orontes, red and 
craggy, and seemingly spread to the farthest horizon. Their 
substance was huge masses of sand-stone mingled with reddish 
3 l 2 
