Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

DURING 19'Ji CENTURY: ASSYRIA AND BABYLONIA 59
far north as Sammosata, the ancient capital of Commagene,
and including Urfa (Edessa) and the ruins of Haran.
About a year after the expedition had left England, the
descent of the Euphrates was commenced, on the 1 6th of
March, 1836. It was a memorable day when the first two
steamboats brought to these regions, " Euphrates " and
" Tigris," left their moorings. The whole Christian and
Mohammedan population of the small town had turned out
" to see an iron boat swim, and, what was more, stem
the current of the river." For according to Chesney and
Ainsworth, there was a tradition familiar at Birejik, which
The Steamers "Euphrates" and "Tigris" descending the Euphrates
accompanied the expedition down the whole river, that when
iron should swim on the waters of the Frat, the fall of
Mohammedanism would commence.
The descent was made in the following manner. The
day before the steamers started, a boat was sent ahead to
examine and sound the river for a distance of twenty to
thirty miles. "The officer who had accomplished his task
became the pilot on the occasion of the first day's descent,