a river of Asiatic Turkey, which rises from the mountains of
Armenia, as some have said, in two streams, a few miles to the
north-east of Erzeron, the streams uniting to the south-west near that
city; and chiefly pursuing a south-west direction to Semisat, where it
would fall into the Mediterranean, if not prevented by a high range of
mountains. In this part of its course the Euphrates is joined by the
Morad, a stream almost doubling in length that of the Euphrates, so that
the latter river might more justly be said to spring from Mount Ararat,
about one hundred and sixty British miles to the east of the imputed
source. At Semisat, the ancient Samosata, this noble river assumes a
southerly direction, then runs an extensive course to the south-east,
and after receiving the Tigris, falls by two or three mouths into the
gulf of Persia, about fifty miles south-east of Bassora; north latitude
29° 50´; east longitude 66° 55´. The comparative course of the Euphrates
may be estimated at about one thousand four hundred British miles. This
river is navigable for a considerable distance from the sea. In its
course it separates Aladulia from Armenia, Syria from Diarbekir, and
Diarbekir from Arabia, and passing through the Arabian Irak, joins the
Tigris. The Euphrates and Tigris, the most considerable as well as the
most renowned rivers of western Asia, are remarkable for their rising
within a few miles of each other, running the same course, never being
more than one hundred and fifty miles asunder, and sometimes, before
their final junction, approaching within fifteen miles of each other, as
in the latitude of Bagdad. The space included between the two is the
ancient country of Mesopotamia. But the Euphrates is by far the more
noble river of the two. Sir R. K. Porter, describing this river in its
course through the ruins of Babylon, observes, “The whole view was
particularly solemn. The majestic stream of the Euphrates wandering in
solitude, like a pilgrim monarch through the silent ruins of his
devastated kingdom, still appeared a noble river, even under all the
disadvantages of its desert-tracked course. Its banks were hoary with
reeds; and the grey osier willows were yet there, on which the captives
of Israel hung up their harps, and, while Jerusalem was not, refused to
be comforted.” The Scripture calls it “the great river,” and assigns it
for the eastern boundary of that land which God promised to the
Israelites, Deut. i, 7; Joshua i, 4.
Armenia, as some have said, in two streams, a few miles to the
north-east of Erzeron, the streams uniting to the south-west near that
city; and chiefly pursuing a south-west direction to Semisat, where it
would fall into the Mediterranean, if not prevented by a high range of
mountains. In this part of its course the Euphrates is joined by the
Morad, a stream almost doubling in length that of the Euphrates, so that
the latter river might more justly be said to spring from Mount Ararat,
about one hundred and sixty British miles to the east of the imputed
source. At Semisat, the ancient Samosata, this noble river assumes a
southerly direction, then runs an extensive course to the south-east,
and after receiving the Tigris, falls by two or three mouths into the
gulf of Persia, about fifty miles south-east of Bassora; north latitude
29° 50´; east longitude 66° 55´. The comparative course of the Euphrates
may be estimated at about one thousand four hundred British miles. This
river is navigable for a considerable distance from the sea. In its
course it separates Aladulia from Armenia, Syria from Diarbekir, and
Diarbekir from Arabia, and passing through the Arabian Irak, joins the
Tigris. The Euphrates and Tigris, the most considerable as well as the
most renowned rivers of western Asia, are remarkable for their rising
within a few miles of each other, running the same course, never being
more than one hundred and fifty miles asunder, and sometimes, before
their final junction, approaching within fifteen miles of each other, as
in the latitude of Bagdad. The space included between the two is the
ancient country of Mesopotamia. But the Euphrates is by far the more
noble river of the two. Sir R. K. Porter, describing this river in its
course through the ruins of Babylon, observes, “The whole view was
particularly solemn. The majestic stream of the Euphrates wandering in
solitude, like a pilgrim monarch through the silent ruins of his
devastated kingdom, still appeared a noble river, even under all the
disadvantages of its desert-tracked course. Its banks were hoary with
reeds; and the grey osier willows were yet there, on which the captives
of Israel hung up their harps, and, while Jerusalem was not, refused to
be comforted.” The Scripture calls it “the great river,” and assigns it
for the eastern boundary of that land which God promised to the
Israelites, Deut. i, 7; Joshua i, 4.