Researches in Assyria, Babylonia, and Chaldæa; forming part of the labours of the Euphrates Expedition

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Drawnty -f la-rlcer, front a Sketch bit A Slo-untim . _W '•/*£■?' PLAIN OF BABYLON RESEARCHES IN* ASSYRIA, BABYLONIA, AND CHALDÆA; FORMING PART OF THE LABOURS OF THE EUPHRATES EXPEDITION. BY WILLIAM AINSWORTH, F.G.S., F.R.G.S. SURGEON AND GEOLOGIST TO THE EXPEDITION; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF PARIS, MEMBER OF THE OEOLOGTCAL SOCIETY OF DUBLIN, HONORARY MEMBER OF THE LIMERICK INSTITUTION, LATE PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL PHYSICAL AND PLINIAN SOCIETIES OF EDINBURGH. PUBLISHED WITH THE SANCTION OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF CONTROL. LONDON : JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND. M.DCCC. XXXVIII. TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANCIS RAWDON CHESNEY, R.A., F.R.S., &c. _c. &c, THIS WORK IS DEDICATED, IN HUMBLE TESTIMONY OF THE HIGH SENSE ENTERTAINED BY THB AUTHOR (AFTER SERVING THREE YEARS UNDER HIS COMMAND), OF HIS ZEAL, JUDGMENT, AND PERSEVERANCE, DISPLAYED IN THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF A MOST ARDUOUS ENTERPRISE; AS WELL ALSO OF HIS NOBLE AND ENLIGHTENED ARDOUR IN THE CAPSE OF SCIENTIFIC AND PHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCH.

CONTENTS. Page The general Physical Features of Taurus, and of the Plains of Mesopotamia and Syria . ] 7 FIRST DISTRICT. Structure ..... 19 Climate ...... 23 Vegetation ...... 24 SECOND DISTRICT. Structure ...... 26 Physical Characters . . . . .29 Climate ...... 31 Vegetation ...... 32 Zoology . . . . . . .36 Birds ....... 42 Fish ....... 45 Reptiles ...... 45 Insects ...... 46 Natural History of the River Euphrates 47 Rock Formations of the River Euphrates, from Taurus to the Alluvial Districts of Babylonia 4!) Researches on the latest Deposits by Transport (commonly called Diluvium) ; and on the Physical Evidences of the Noachian Deluge, contained in the Basin of the Euphrates, and in the Plains of Babylonia .... 93 Description and Progress of the Alluvial Districts of Babylonia, Chaldæa, and Susiana.

Part I. — Physical Geography and Geology Part II. — Historical 108 148 Rivers of Susiana 196 Researches on the Geology of the Head of the Persian Gulf 217 b CONTENTS. Page Structure of that part of the Persian Apennines designated as the " Ladders," or the KAi/ia-cer of Diodorus Siculus 224 Geology of Southern Kurdistan 237 Rock Formations of the Territory of Musul, of 'Urfah, and of North Kurdistan Formations of the Territory of Musul Territory of 'Urfah (Osrhoene) Geology of Northern Kurdistan 256 261 264 267 Rock Formations of Taurus 292 Territories of Ain-Tab, Kilis, and Antioch Cyrrhestica 295 Territory of Antioch (Antakiyah) 299 Casiotis, and Territories of Ladikiyeh and Upper Orontes 303 Jawur Dagh, and Akma Dagh (Amanus and Rhosus) 313 Cilician Taurus . 326 Glossary of some of the less defined Geological Terms . 341 LIST OF ENGRAVINGS, &c. Plain of Babylonia Frontispiece.