* The Uknu is the Kerkhah of the present day, the Choaspes
of the Greeks.
** The Ididi was at first identified with the ancient
Pasitigris, which scholars then desired to distinguish from
the Eulseos: it is now known to be the arm of the Karun
which runs to Dizful, the Koprates of classical times, which
has sometimes been confounded with the Eulaws.
*** The Ulaî, mentioned in the Hebrew texts (Ban. viii. 2,
16), the Euloos of classical writers, also called
Pasitigris. It is the Karun of the present day, until its
confluence with the Shaûr, and subsequently the Shaûr
itself, which waters the foot of the Susian hills.
From earliest times this country was inhabited by three distinct peoples, whose descendants may still be distinguished at the present day, and although they have dwindled in numbers and become mixed with elements of more recent origin, the resemblance to their forefathers is still very remarkable. There were, in the first place, the short and robust people of well-knit figure, with brown skins, black hair and eyes, who belonged to that negritic race which inhabited a considerable part of Asia in prehistoric times.*
* The connection of the negroid type of Susians with the
negritic races of India and Oceania, has been proved, in the
course of M. Dieulafoy’s expedition to the Susian plains and
the ancient provinces of Elam.
These prevailed in the lowlands and the valleys, where the warm, damp climate favoured their development; but they also spread into the mountain region, and had pushed their outposts as far as the first slopes of the Iranian table-land. They there contact with white-skinned of medium height, who were probably allied to the nations of Northern and Central Asia—to the Scythians,* for instance, if it is permissible to use a vague term employed by the Ancients.
* This last-mentioned people is, by some authors, for
reasons which, so far, can hardly be considered conclusive,
connected with the so-called Sumerian race, which we find
settled in Chaldæa. They are said to have been the first to
employ horses and chariots in warfare.
Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a photograph furnished by
Marcel Dieulafoy.