Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/124

84 ral excursions which we made during a residence of two years in these parts, I shall confine myself to laying before him a description of such objects as may be generally interesting.

To the north-west of the town, and just without the walls, are several sulphur springs much frequented by the inhabitants during the summer months for their supposed medicinal properties. The water is collected in two open pools, the use of which is appropriated exclusively to the male and female population on alternate days. Much is said of the benefit which persons suffering from chronic rheumatism and kindred complaints have derived from these mineral baths.

Ten hours to the south of Mosul, at a place called Hamman Ali, is another copious bituminous spring, the water of which is so hot that many faint on first stepping into it. A tolerably commodious building covers the spring, whither resort all kinds of impotent folk, who frequently come a distance of ten or even twenty days' journey to test its virtues. The tales told by the Mussulmans of the cures effected by bathing at Hamman Ali on persons afflicted with rheumatic and other chronic diseases are almost incredible.

About three hours' ride to the west of the baths is a natural well, 140 ft. deep and 50 ft. in diameter, called el-Khasfeh, in which thousands of wild pigeons build their nests undisturbed by the natives, who believe that ill-luck will inevitably follow any attempt to dislodge them. In the beginning of 1844 Mohammed Pasha determined to have a day's sporting here, and accordingly ordered all the villagers around to attend and bring their nets. With these he covered the mouth of the well, and beyond its brink formed a narrow gallery six feet high, to the inside of which a curtain was attached, capable of being let down at pleasure. After the pigeons had been driven into the gallery, the curtain was made to descend, and no less than seven mule-loads of these birds were taken. I arrived too late to witness the proceedings, but on reaching the spot we found a number of dead pigeons on the ground which the Pasha's followers had not thought it worth while to remove. This violation of the mysterious Khasfeh was the talk of the town for several days, and many ventured to prognosticate the downfall of the offender. In this instance the popular superstition was