volume 2 - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian History Workshop

34
Tavernier's Description of MSsul.
only considerable for the great concourse of Merchants,
especially the Arabians and Curds, which are the inhabitants
of the great Assyria, now called Curdistan, where
there grows great plenty of Galls, and for which there is a
great Trade. There are in it four sorts of Christians
Greeks, Armenians, Nestorians and Maronites. The
but
Capuchins had a pretty Dwelling upon the Tigris ;
the Basha laying a Fine upon them, because they were
about to enlarge it, they were forc'd to quit it. The City
is governed by a Basha, that has under him, part Janizaries,
part Spahi's, about three thousand men. There
are only two scurvy Inns in Moussul. . . . But now
let us cross the Tigris, over a Bridge of Boats, to view the
sad Ruines of a city that has made such a noise in the
World ; though there be now scarce any appearance of
its ancient splendour. Nineveh was built upon the left
Shoar of the Tigris, upon Assyria-side, being now only a
heap of Rubbish extending almost a League along the
River. There are abundance of Vaults and Caverns
uninhabited ; nor could a man well conjecture whether
they were the ancient Habitations of the people, or
whether any houses had been built upon them in former
times ; for most of the houses in Turkic are like Cellars,
or else but one Story high. Half a League from Tigris
stands a little hill encompass' d with Houses, on the top
whereof is built a Mosquee. The people of the Country
and for
say 'twas the place where Jonas was bury'd ;
that place they have so great a veneration that no
Christians are suffer'd to enter into it, but privately, and
for Money. By that means I got in with two Capuchin
Fryars ; but we were forc'd to put off our Shooes first.
In the middle of the Mosquee stood a Sepulchre, cover'd
with a Persian carpet of Silk and Silver, and at the four
corners great Copper Candlesticks with Wax Tapers,
besides several Lamps and Ostridge Shells that hung down
from the Roof. We saw a great number of Moores
without,
coran."^
and within sat two Dervi's reading the Al-
^ Travels, London, 1684, p. 71.