_ 119 _ There is only one of them left, because a shepherd pulled down the other, but was drowned without taking possession of it. This river is very large, and is the principal headwater and source of the Tigris. It flows down to the city of Seinqif; and this bridge divides Upper Armenia from Lower Armenia, and Ancient Persia from Parthia of Mesopotamia. Once we had crossed the Tigris, we went about a league beyond and put up in a small place called Batman. The inhabitants are poor people, Kurdish peasants. On the next day at midday we passed an ancient city surrounded by a strong, broad wall of stonework with towers, but falling down in many places, called Meiafarakin. Armenian Jacobites and Kurds lived there, but it was uninhabited for the most part. It was built by Greeks, as was clear from the distinction of the buildings. It was destroyed by Tamerlaine the Great, who first besieged it for a long time. To the north of this city, not far away, is a chapel dedicated to Our Lady where many miracles have occurred. The affection of the Turks for Kara Amid caused them to abandon this city, because they do not wish to fortify two cities so close together in order not to have to place many garrisons near to one another, for this is unnecessary. Here we paid one maidim per load
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