Page:The Nestorians and their rituals, volume 1.djvu/308

254 the present day among the papal Syrians and Chaldeans of the plains.

On our return to Amedia, I accidentally heard of a young Jacobite lad, who had been forced to embrace Islamism. On my return to Mosul, I made an application to the Pasha, on the subject, and succeeded, after some trouble, in procuring his liberation, after which he was permitted to join his church without molestation.

March 6th.—We left Amedia at 7, and after crossing the Supna, made the western rump of Jebel Gara about noon. The road now ran through two ravines covered with valonîa-oak, and at 2, we reached the Coordish village of Spindar, (the Zindar of Ainsworth.) The southern side of the Gara is quite smooth, and entirely destitute of wood. On ascending the high hills beyond Spindar, called Tcah Kheré, we had to our left a pretty valley, in which lay the two villages of Tceloki and Mezi, the former belonging to the Coords, and the latter inhabited by forty Nestorian families with a church and Priest. A little farther on we crossed another deep ravine, through which the principal source of the Gomel flows, and close by which is the large village of Khor Depni, until lately peopled by Nestorians; but the Priest having seceded to Rome, all his flock followed his example. This district is very fertile in vineyards, fig, almond, and pomegranate trees. After travelling till sunset, we put up for the night at the Coordish village of Kani Baska.

March 7th.—Set off at half-past 5, once a rugged road, and in three hours reached Bestava, situated in a narrow vale, with several other Chaldean villages, which like that of Khor Depni were until within the last few years inhabited by Nestorians. One hour more brought us to the Geli-oot-Tirsh, a long and difficult pass leading through the Tcah Mezuriyeh range. At the head of the pass we observed the remains of a deserted village, amidst the ruins of which, the almond trees were blossoming, and the vines were putting forth their early leaves apparently without an owner. After travelling three hours more we reached the pretty Coordish village of Shkeftendiah, the ((the [sic]Kathandiyah of Mr. Ainsworth,) situated in a valley which gives off several glens, that to our right leading to Sheikh Adi, the sacred shrine of the Yezeedees, a detailed description