Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/252

198 Feb. 21st.—Left Tell Iskof at 7 and after crossing the remainder of the plain entered a district of low hills covered with grass, through which a clear stream meandered in its course towards the Tigris. At 11 we reached Bahendawayah, a small village inhabited by Coords and Yezeedees, and situated in a pass leading through the mountain range of Rabban Hormuzd. During the day we met a party of fifteen Jews on their way to Mosul, whither they were going to petition the Pasha against the exactions of the Mutsellim of Amedia. The poor people seemed driven to desperation, and replied in answer to my question whether they were not afraid of the governor's vengeance: "He can do no more than take away our lives, and death will deliver us from the sufferings which we are now made to endure."

Towards the evening we met Kasha Mendu, the Nestorian priest of Amedia, who was on his way to Mosul in consequence of an invitation which I had sent him a month previously, in order to make arrangements with him for opening schools among the Nestorians in the valley of the Supna. He gladly joined our party, and I found his services very useful throughout the journey. At half-past 5 we reached the Coordish village of Emumké, where we put up for the night.

Feb. 22nd.—We started this morning at 7 and at 2  came in sight of the extensive plain of the Supna, bounded on the north by the lofty Tcah Meteenah, and on the south by the Tcah Gara range, both now almost covered with snow. There are many Christian villages still remaining in the Supna, but a great number have been deserted within the last few years. Half a century ago all these villages were inhabited by Nestorians, but the greater part of those which remain have within that time joined the Chaldean community, and are at present under the jurisdiction of Mutran Yoosef of Alkôsh, who is sometimes styled Bishop of Amedia. At 6 we reached the Coordish village of Badi Resh, where we put up for the night.

Feb. 23rd.—Started from Badi Besh at 7 and followed the course of a pretty stream for some distance, when we left it to its winding under Jebel Gara in its journey towards the Zab. Ainsworth calls this stream "Gara," but its real name is Ava Supna, or the Supna water; it rises a little to the west of