The broth was of a bluish black in colour, and with a rather
strongly acid taste--both the result of the berries. But it agreed
with me very well, and I felt as strong and well as if I had
undergone no hardships during my journey from Baghdad.
I hoped soon to have had a similar dainty meal, but the Arab does
not live so extravagantly; I was obliged to remain satisfied with
bread and some cucumbers, without salt, oil, or vinegar.
26th June. We left the village and passed Kerku. At sunrise, we
ascended a small hill, from the summit of which I was astonished by
a beautiful prospect: a majestic lofty chain of mountains extended
along an enormous valley, and formed the boundary between Kurdistan
and Mesopotamia.
In this valley there were the most beautiful flowers, mallows,
chrysanthemums, and thistly plants. Among the latter, there was one
which frequently occurs in Germany, but not in such richness and
magnificence. In many places these thistles cover large spaces of
ground. The country people cut them down, and burn them instead of
wood, which is here a great luxury, as there are no trees.
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