Where did Noah Land?

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 21, 25 May 1910, Page 47

Where did Noah Land?

Captain Bertram Dickson, who made extensive journeys in Kurdistan while holding the post of military consul, lias (says “Popular Science Siftings”) told the Royal Geographical Society that he made an especial inquiry into the problem as to where Noah really landed after the great deluge. “The Bible historian,” he said, “takes the account of the ark resting on Mount Ararat from the Chaldean legend, which made it rest on the mountains of Urartu, while local traditions—Christian, Moslem, and Yezidi alike—make it Jcbel Judi, a striking, sheer, rocky wall of seven thousand feet, which frowned over Mesopotamia. Common sense also would suggest that, with a subsiding flood in the plains, the ark would more probably run aground on the high ridge at the edge nF the plain rather than on a solitary peak miles from the plains, and with many high ridges intervening. There is a large sanctuary at the top of Jebel Judi, where each year, in August, is held a great fete, attended by thousands of energetic Mo-’, ms. Christians, and Yezid is, or devil wonshippers, who climb the steepest trails for seven thousand feet in the terrific summer’s

heat to do homage to Noah. This motin tain seems to have been held sam d al al time*?, and certainly it has an awesome fascination about it. with its huge preci pices and jagged, tangled crags watch ill’, over the vast Mesopotamian plain. Tlt< local villagers show one exact -pot w licit Noah descended while in one village. Ilasana, they show a grave and lhe vine yard where he was reputed to have in dulged freely in the juice of the grape the owner declaring th.it the vines hav been pasrvd down from father to son eve since.”