TIGRIS and EUPHRATES, two largo rivers of western Asia, unite their waters at Kunst]. in the lower part of tho plain of Bahylonia, and take the name of Shatt-el-Arah, which falls into the Persian Gulf near 30° N. lat., 48° 30' E. long. Both rivers rise in the central table-land of Armenia, and after breaking through the Taurus inclose the great plains of Mesopotamia, the Euphrates forming the boundary on tho west and south, and the Tigris on the east.
The Euphrates ie formed about two hours above Kebban Maden, (39! N. lat., 39° E. long.) by the confluence of two rivers, to both of which the name Prat is occasionally applied, but which are more gene rally known, the eastern as the Murad, the western as the Kara-Su.
The Murcul rises on the west side of Ala-Tag, near the north-east termination of the mountain group that encircles Lake Van. (Anmeare.) The stream flows down a mountain ravine nearly six hours due north to Diyadin 32' N. lat., 43° 40' E. long.), where it enters the plain of Arishkord, and turning north-west flows in that direction about 24 miles to Kara-Kilisa. At Kara-Kilisa it receives the Sheriran-Su, which flows east from its source near Molla-Suleiman. From Kara Killers to the junction of the ChanBulaur (about 39° N. lat., 41° 30' E. long.) the Murad flows in a general direction of south-west, having the mountain range of which Ala-Tag, Sapan-Tag, and Nimrud.Tag are the most remarkable summits, etretehing parallel to it at a consi derable distance on the south-east, and the Bingiil Mountains south of the Ants and of Erzrum at about an equal distance to the north west [Mine:nal Near Malaskird, a town about 36 .miles below Kara-Kilisa, the Murad ie joined by the Keith-Su, which has its source at Khiuia, and flows from the north-west Near the source of the Kaleh-Su is Khinie. Tho Char-Buhur rises in the angle between the Dujik and the Bin-Gol Mountains, and flows nearly east by south till it joins the Murad : the rivers meet is a straight line, the former coming from the west, the latter from the east, and the surface of the water at the point of juuction is about 70 yards wide in the month of June, and 4138 feet above the sea. The united stream turns off at
right angles to the south, through a narrow valley which widens gradually till it becomes part of the plain of Mush. The river retains the direction of south for about 10 miles, when it receives the Kara-Su, which traverses the plain of Mush. The Murad from its junction with the Kara.Su to the plain of Kharput flows in a general western direc tion, between the Dujik-Dagh on the north and the continuation of the Taurus Mountains on the south. Between the plain of Mush and Kharput the river is navigated by keleks, or rafts, loaded with charcoal, fire-wood, 3:e. For a short distance before the Murad enters the plain of Kharput the mountains close in upon it on both sides, so that the stream is narrowed iu some places to a breadth of 33 yards. The basin of the Murad between the plain of Mush and the plain of Kharput is described In the article ARMENIA, VOL i. cols. 513, 514. At Palu, on the northern side of the plain, the river in the month of July is 100 yards wide and the current very rapid : there is a ford opposite the town, but intricate and precarious. Below Palu the 3lurad receives a considerable feeder on the right, which is called the Perez-Su, and carries down the drainage of a considerable portion of the Dujik Mountains. A. few miles below the junction of the Perez-Sn the river turns north-west, and flows in that direction through a mountainous country for about 50 miles to its junction with the Kara-Su, or Western Euphrates, a little above the village and lead mines of Kebban-Maden, and near the point indicated by 39° N. Lat., 39° E. long. Where the Murad turns north-westward, below the junction of the Perez-Su, a small stream flowing eastward enters the river at this its most southern point, flowing through the plain of Kharput, and past the village of Alshan. Here the Murad is not more than 25 miles from the source of the Tigris.