Well, this is too late for Bruce Olson, but,
regarding the river:

Bendemir is an archaic name for this river,
and it is in the Middle East.
That is why Thomas Moore included his lyric
in an Oriental novel called Lalla Rookh,
as opposed to his National Airs;
it is sung by the ladies in the harem (!)


Today this river goes by a different name.
Aras / Araxes