'Narrative of a journey to the site of Babylon in 1811, now first published: memoir on the ruins; with engravings from the original sketches by the author: remarks on the topography of ancient Babylon, by Major Rennell; in reference to the memoir: second memoir on the ruins; in reference to Major Rennell's remarks: with narrative of a journey to Persepolis: now first printed, with hitherto unpublished cuneiform inscriptions copied at Persepolis: by the late Claudius James Rich, Esq., formerly the Resident of the Hon. East India Company at Bagdad. Edited by his widow.' [‎54] (132/474)

54
MEMOIR ON THE RUINS
phrates rises at an earlier period than the Tigris ; in
the middle of the winter it increases a little, but falls
again soon after; in March it again rises, and in the
latter end of April is at its full, continuing so till
the latter end of June. When at its height it over
flows the surrounding country*, fills the canals dug
for its reception, without the slightest exertion of
labour, and facilitates agriculture in a surprising de
gree. The ruins of Babylon are then inundated so
as to render many parts of them inaccessible, by
converting the valleys among them into morasses.
But the most remarkable inundation of the Euphrates
is at Felugiah, twelve leagues to the westward of
Bagdad, where on breaking down the dyke which
confines its waters within their proper channel, they
flow over the country, and extend nearly to the banks
of the Tigris, with a depth sufficient to render them
navigable for rafts and flat-bottomed boats. At the
moment I am now writing (May 24th, 1812) rafts
laden with lime are brought on this inundation almost
every day from Felugiah, to within a few hundred
yards of the northern gate of Bagdad, called the
Imam Mousa gate.
The water of the Euphrates is esteemed more sa-
* Otter came up the Euphrates from Bussora in the month of May,
1743, at the season when the river is rising. He speaks of the em
bankments raised to keep the river within bounds, and complains of
the detention and other annoyances he suffered while passing through
the extensive marsh to the southward of Babylon, in the country of
the Khezail Arabs, which is formed by the waters of the Euphrates
overflowing the surrounding country.—See Voyage en Turquie et en
Perse; par M. Otter, Tome ii., p. 196. 204.— E d.