'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎502] (591/905)

502
RIVERS OF THE pisHALIK.
[CHAP. XX.
side, the latter is almost entirely pasture ; grain being the
exception in the Ledja and some other tracts.
The rivers and valleys of this extensive district are numerous;
The Barrada. but in general the former do not reach the sea. The Barrada,
one of the most important, has its northern source at Am-el-
Hawra Ujmt, from whence it flows southward along the Anti-
Lebanon ; and in the plain three miles eastward of Zibdeni it
receives a short affluent flowing through that place. The
trunk then makes a tortuous course in an east-south-easterly
direction through a rich valley, alternately bordered by bold
rocks and wooded hills. It passes the village of Souk, where
there are some remarkable excavations; then that of Abila,
and subsequently those of Dei'r Kamar and El Faidja, when it
receives a fine stream, the Ain-el-Faidja, 1 and carries onward
a considerable body of water; but on approaching Damascus
a bifurcation of this river, the ancient Chrysorrhoas, takes
place. One branch passes near Jebel Salahiyah, and along
the northern side of the city, 2 whilst the southern is directed
into eight different channels, 3 which, after watering the city
and fertilizing its extensive gardens, re-unite a little beyond;
Abana and and the trunk, probably the Abana, or Amana, 4 is joined by
piiarpar. ^ nort j lern branch, possibly the Pharpar, 5 which has also
been greatly diminished by irrigation. 6 Shortly afterwards,
the trunk enters the marshes and Lake of Bahr-el-Merdj
Atibe, receiving just previously on its southern side the
Nahr-el-Berde, and another tributary, the Awaadj Kisweh.
The former descends from the district of Rasheia in two
branches, which unite at the foot of Jebel Rabusieh, from
whence the trunk makes a tortuous course; first eastward
* 1 Edrisi, p. 350, tome V., Recueil de Voyages, &c.
3 Plurimi tamen Damascum ex epoto riguis amne Chrysorrhoa fertilem.—
Pliny, lib. V., cap. xvi.
3 Viz., Ndhr-Berid, Ndhr Boura, Ndhr Bardi, Ndhr Canat-el-Marah, Ndhr-
Banas, Nahr-Sacath, Ndhr Cheikour, and Ndhr A'die.—Edrisi, p. 350.
4 2 Kings, chap. V., v. 12. 8 Ibid.
6 Benjaminof Tudela says expressly, thaf the Amana flows through Damascus ^
and is conducted by pipes into the houses of the principal inhabitants; and he
adds, the Pharpar runs between the gardens and orchards on the outskirts, and
richly supplies them with water.—By A. Asher, vol. I., p. 84.