the affluents almost entirely cease; one, the river of Sajur, is
received from the right, in about lat. 36 deg. 40'; and two of more
importance flow in from the left-the Belik (ancient Bilichus), which
joins it in long. 39 deg. 9'; and the Khabour (ancient Habor or
Chaboras), which effects a junction in long. 40 deg. 30', lat. 35 deg.
7'. The Belik and Khabour collect the waters which flow from the
southern flank of the mountain range above Orfa, Mardin, and Nisibin,
best known as the "Mons Masius" of Strabo. They are not, however,
streams of equal importance. The Belik has a course which is nearly
straight, and does not much exceed 120 miles. The Khabour, on the
contrary, is sufficiently sinuous, and its course may be reckoned at
fully 200 miles. It is navigable by rafts from the junction of its two
main branches near the volcanic cone of Koukab, and adds a considerable
body of water to the Euphrates. Below its confluence with this stream,
or during the last 800 miles of its course, the Euphrates does not
receive a single tributary. On the contrary, it soon begins to give off
its waters right and left, throwing out branches, which either terminate
in marshes, or else empty themselves into the Tigris. After awhile,
indeed, it receives compensation, by means of the Shat-el-Hie and other
branch streams, which bring back to it from the Tigris, between Mugheir
and Kurnah, the greater portion of the borrowed fluid. The Tigris, on
the contrary, is largely enriched throughout the whole of its course by
the waters of tributary streams. It is formed originally of three main
branches: the Diarbekr stream, or true Tigris, the Myafarekin River, and
the Bitlis Chai, or Centrites of Xenophon, which carries a greater body
than either of the other two. From its entry on the low country near
Jezireh to the termination of its course at Kurnah, it is continually
receiving from the left a series of most important additions. The chain
of Zagros, which, running parallel to the two main springs, shuts in the
Mesopotamian plain upon the east, abounds with springs, which are well