Turkish Koordistan consists of the territories of Beltis, Arbela and Van, and corresponds generally to the ancient Assyria. The Koords, from whom the country takes its name, are supposed to be the descendants of the ancient Carduchi, who opposed the retreat of the Ten Thousand, as narrated by Xenophon. They have never been completely subdued by the neighboring States. Detached tribes are scattered over Diarbekir, and in the territories of Erzroom, Erivan, Siwas, and Aleppo; but they rarely pass further south than Antioch. In Syria, they occupy the mountains between Aleppo and Antioch.

This is the country, and these are the people that are introduced to us in the very faithful and interesting sketches of the late Mr. Rich. We gave some account of this distinguished British traveller in Bib. Repos. No. 23. But as we have, in the mean time, ascertained some additional facts in relation to his life, we shall here subjoin them.

Mr. Rich, the writer of this Narrative, was born on the 28th of March, 1787, at Dijon in France; and while yet an infant, was carried to Bristol, England, where he spent the first years of his life. While passing through the usual course of instruction, the elements of Latin and Greek being taught him by a relative, his curiosity led him to acquire several modern languages, without a teacher, and assisted only by books. When but eight or nine years old, having seen some Arabic MSS. at Bristol, he was seized with a strong desire to learn that difficult tongue. At fifteen years of age, he had made no mean progress in Hebrew, Syriac, Persian, Turkish and other oriental languages. His extraordinary attainments attracted the attention of Drs. Marshman and Ryland, of Robert Hall, of Sir Charles Wilkins, and other eminent men, and he was nominated to a writership on the Bombay establishment. In order to perfect himself in Arabic and Turkish, he was attached as secretary to Mr. Lock, who was at that time proceeding to Egypt as consul-general. Mr. Lock having died at Malta before entering on his mission, the directors of the East India Company allowed Mr. R. to follow such a course of travels as would be most conducive to the object in view. He remained some time at Constantinople and also at Smyrna. At the latter place, he put himself to school with the young Turkish students of his own age. He then resided for some time in Egypt as assistant to Col. Missett, consul-general, employing his time in perfecting himself in Arabic, etc. From Egypt, he travelled in the dis

guise of a Mamaluke through Palestine to Damascus, Aleppo, Mardin, Bagdad, and early in September, 1807, reached Bombay. He there met with Sir James Mackintosh, to whom Robert Hall had before introduced him. He was received into the family of that distinguished civilian, whose eldest daughter he soon after married. Early in 1808, he took up his abode in Bagdad as British Resident. His high spirit, his sound political views, his perfect knowledge of the native character, and his profuse generosity speedily gained him the highest reputation both with the local government and the people. He spent about six years in Bagdad with no European society but that of his wife, and of Mr. Hine, the surgeon of the residency, who was also his assistant. The leisure which he enjoyed from his public duties he spent in pursuing his favorite studies. He made collections for a history, and for a geographical and a statistical account of the pashalik of Bagdad. He examined all the remains of antiquity within his reach; and commenced his collection of oriental Mss., which he spared no labor or cost to render complete. He also formed a rich collection of medals and coins, and of the gems and engraved stones found at Babylon, Nineveh, Ctesiphon, and Bagdad. The fruit of his observations was his Memoir on the Ruins of Babylon, first printed in the Vienna Mines de l' Orient. Major Rennell having called in question some of the conclusions in that Memoir, Mr. Rich, in 1818, published a second Memoir, in which he confirms the reasoning of the first, and adds a valuable appendix on Babylonian antiques. In 1813 and in 1814, Mr. and Mrs. Rich proceeded on horseback to Constantinople, Vienna, Paris, etc. On his return to Bagdad, he took, as far as possible, a different route from the one on which he had journeyed towards Europe, visiting the site of ancient Troy, the Syrian and Chaldean convents in Mesopotamia, etc. During the five or six years after his return to the residency, Mr. Rich added so largely to his Mss., as to render them, perhaps, the most extensive and valuable ever brought together by any private person in the East. His collection of coins, Greek, Parthian, Sassanian, and Mussulman, was also much enlarged, as was that of his gems and engraved stones. In 1820 the state of his health requiring change of air, he made a tour into Koordistan, of which the two volumes, whose title is at the head of this article, contain the journal. In his return, he visited many of the ancient christian churches in Chaldea, especially such as he VOL. IX. No. 25. 26

had not an opportunity of seeing in his former journeys. Besides other curious Mss., he was enabled to preserve and to add to his library many valuable and ancient copies of the Syrian and Chaldean versions of the Scriptures.

It was now his intention to have proceeded to Bombay, where he had been appointed to an important office by the Hon. Mr. Elphinstone then governor, when a violent attack was made on the residency by the orders, or with the connivance, of the Pasha. This Mr. Rich succeeded in repelling by force of arms, and moved down to Bussorah until due reparation was offered.

While waiting instructions from his own government, he employed his time in a tour to Shiraz, whence he visited Persepolis, the tomb of Cyrus, etc. While he was in this city, the cholera morbus appeared, and in a few days carried off 6000 people out of a population of 40,000. Mr. Rich's time was chiefly employed for many days in visiting the sick, and administering the necessary medicines. But the disease was already working in his own veins. On leaving the bath on the 5th of October, symptoms of cholera appeared, and in spite of every assistance and care, he expired on the following morning, the 6th of October. He was interred in one of the royal gardens, where a monument has since been erected to his memory. The great excellence of his character is attested in the warmest manner by all who were, at any time, in his society.

The Memoirs on Babylon, and a few papers in the Vienna Journal, were the only writings which he published in his lifetime. He left a considerable number of Mss. ; in particular, an ample journal of his route from Bagdad to Constantinople, in which Mrs. Rich accompanied him on horseback. His journal from Constantinople to Paris, and from Paris back to Bagdad, is likewise preserved, and other papers. Some of them will soon be published. His magnificent collection of Oriental Mss., of coins and antiquities, was purchased by the British parliament, for the use of the British museum, where it is now deposited.

We now propose to give some account of the journal in Koordistan. "These volumes," says Mrs. Rich, "are all which exist of a work begun by Mr. Rich, on a very extensive scale. He therefore applied himself diligently to the study of various scientific subjects, by the knowledge of which he hoped to ac

complish his design. He felt that a very different book of travels in the East, would be expected from one who had enjoyed so many advantages as himself, than could be claimed from the generality of travellers; for he had spent many years in Asia; he spoke several Asiatic languages fluently; and he was intimately acquainted with the character and manners of the people. It will be found, accordingly, that he was evidently at home in the countries which he describes; that his observations, being in his own mind the result of long experience, are not given as new discoveries, but as well ascertained facts; and many allusions are made which indicate his intimacy with the feelings and habits of the country, but which will perhaps either appear obscure, or pass unheeded by those who may not be equally well acquainted with the subject."

The first volume is taken up with the journal of Mr. Rich's residence in Koordistan. The second volume is occupied in a description of the journey from Sulimania to Mosul; of repeated examinations of the ruins of Nineveh; of visits to the convents of Chaldean Christians, and other interesting objects near Mosul; of a voyage down the Tigris, from Mosul to Bagdad, and Bushire; of a journey to Shiraz; descriptions of the ruins of Persepolis, etc. An appendix contains observations made at the ancient Arbela, with notes on the battle; a list of Syrian Mss., procured by the author; journal of bearings and distances; journal of two expeditions from Bagdad to Bussorah, in 1811 and 1812, account of an excursion from Bagdad to Ctesiphon and Seleucia in 1812, etc.

The number of families who inhabit that part of Koordistan which is under the government of the Pasha of Sulimania, amounts to 12 or 15,000. The commerce of Sulimania, the capital, is not extensive. A caravan goes generally about once a month, to Tabreez, carrying dates, coffee, etc., and bringing back raw silk, silk-stuffs, etc. Once a year, a caravan goes to Erzroom, with dates, coffee, and other articles, for which are exchanged iron, copper and mules. A caravan proceeds once a month to Hamadan, and Sinna. There is also constant intercourse with Kerkook, Mosul and Bagdad.

There is much beautiful scenery in Koordistan. "September 13th, we reached," says Mr. Rich," the beautiful village of Deira, embosomed in a wood of the finest walnut trees I ever saw, which had a prodigious spread. Gardens, vineyards, and cultivation surrounded the village in every available spot, on the

sides of the mountain. The vines in many places crept up the trees, and extended from one tree to the other, forming festoons and draperies. Multitudes of springs burst from the sides of the hill and dashed over the roots of the trees, in numberless little cascades. Nothing was heard but the murmuring of the waters. It was not easy to pass so beautiful a spot without a pause to enjoy its loveliness. Accordingly, Omar Aga and I alighted under the shade of a walnut, by the side of a little rill, and the peasants immediately spread before us a collation of honey in the comb, fresh butter, butter-milk, peaches, and grapes."

The following will illustrate the allusion in Jonah, to the "east wind," which withered the gourd. "All the people of Sulimania complain of the extraordinary prevalence of the Sherki, or easterly wind, this year, which renders this season intolerably hot and relaxing. They have not had three days together, free from this wind, since the beginning of summer. Since we have returned from the mountains, we have been greatly troubled with it, and it is still very relaxing, though divested of its extraordinary heat."

The governor of the pashalik, and several members of his family, are represented by Mr. Rich as very estimable persons. "Mahmood Pasha I shall always think of with affection. His very countenance is indicative of purity, of candor and simplicity. I never expected to meet with such a man in the East. I fear many such are not to be met with in better climes. There is a melancholy and a tenderness in his character, which render him quite interesting. He is all feeling. The death of his son he will not readily get over, and I will confidently assert that no native of the East, ever loved his wife and children as he does. Yesterday evening he went into his haram for the first time, since the death of his son. A child of his brother's met him and called him father. That name, and the infantine voice with which it was pronounced, were too much for him; he shrieked and fell senseless to the ground. It must be recollected that all grief is reprobated by the Mohammedan religion; and excess of feeling for a woman or a child, is universally despised by the followers of Islam, which preaches only apathy and sternness. The Pasha has become more really religious than any oriental I ever knew; yet it has not made him fanatic or unfeeling. His better nature has risen above the degrading doctrines of Mohammedanism."

"Osman Bey, a brother of the Pasha's, does not lose on a