'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.' [‎405] (484/905)

CHAP. XVII.] RISE AND FALL OF THE JORDAN. 405
could have flowed into the latter unless they at one time ^ b ^ fa
occupied a more elevated position than at present. The tion with the
Bamian source of the river is said to be on a higher level
than that sea; and therefore it is not impossible that before,
by the sinking of the land, the present basin was formed, a
river might have found its way southward to the gulf of
Akabah. We have not had such regular observations as
would enable us to judge of the state of the Jordan through
out the year; but from those which have been made at
intervals, it appears that the river continues low during
the winter, and, like the Euphrates, begins to increase towards
the spring. The change becomes very perceptible during
the month of March; 1 in April there is a further increase,
and it is, probably, at the highest, as in the time of the Ex
odus, during harvest, or about the middle of May, 2 when
it is augmented by the melting of the snow in the Leba
non. At this season the waters find space in lake Haleh as
well as in the basins of Tiberias and the Dead Sea; from
the last of which, in particular, a great evaporation taking
place, the excess is, in part, carried off, and the overflowing
of the Jordan is rendered much less than it would other
wise be.
» Messrs. Irby and Mangles forded it on the 12th, and were obliged to
swim their horses at the same place on the 25th March, pp. 304 345.
8 On the 3rd of May the river was five feet deep near Jericho. Turner s
Tour, vol. II., p. 224.