We gather from the records of the campaigns of the Assyrian kings that the country both in Mesopo tamia and to the coast of the Euphrates, now in cluded in the general term of ' the Desert,' was at that remote period teeming with a dense population both sedentary and nomade ; that cities, towns, and villages, rose on all sides ; and that consequently the soil brought forth produce for the support of this great congregation of human beings. There are still traces in these now desolate regions of their ancient wealth and prosperity. Mounds of earth covering the ruins of buildings, or the sites of fenced stations and forts, are scattered far and wide over the plains. 'When the winter rains furrow the face of the land, inscribed stones, graven pottery, and masses of brickwork, the certain signs of former habitations, are everywhere found by the wandering Arab. All these settlements depended almost exclusively upon artificial irrigation. Hence the dry beds of enormous canals and countless watercourses which are spread like a net-work over the face of the country. Even the traveller accustomed to the triumphs of modern science and civilization, gazes with wonder and awe upon their gigantic works, and reflects with admiration upon the industry, the skill, and the power of those who made them' (p. 636).
Physical Geography and Productions.—` We may infer' (says Captain Felix Jones, in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. xv. p. 29S) that, in its local features, the region cannot have materially changed since the era in which Nimrod, Asshur, or Ninus, migrated from the plains of Babylonia to found a dynasty or a kingdom beyond the Zab. The great mountain ranges of the Taurus to the north, and Zagros to the north-east and east, in this region sink almost imperceptibly into traversed at certain intervals only by slight ridges, which, having a direction parallel to the sides of the greater chains, just rise in lines above the soil, or crop forth only in undulations of varying height from W. N. \V. to E. S. E. Eastward of the modern Mosul these ridges are most depressed and broken, offering outlets to the pent-up mountain streams which unite to form the upper Zab, as well as to give passage to other tributaries, principally winter torrents or minor rivulets, that issue from the Gebel MakItib, of which the KhOsr-sir or Khorsa had stream is the chief. During winter rains this becomes an impassable barrier, while at other periods it is fordable in most places. It falls into the Tigris in lat. 36° 21' N., just opposite the mo dern Mosul ; and the Zab debouches in the same way in the par. of 35° 59' N., enclosing between its broad shingly bed and Khosr stream a highly arable plain, diversified here and there only by gentle un dulations and slopes. This plain, a somewhat ir
regular parallelogram in shape, and in extent twenty five miles by fifteen, contains most of the Assyrian sites we are yet acquainted with.' Colonel Chesney says (Survey of Euplamles and Tigrs, vol. i. p. 1o5): —Mesopotamia, generally, is a plain country, abounding with wormwood ; but between Baghdad and the Euphrates, a part of the surface is occupied by salt lakes and marshes; and near the two rivers there are several khors, or fresh lakes, the most re markable being those which inundate the neigh bourhood of Akar Kdf, of the Birs Nimriid, and Lamlfirn. The soil of Mesopotamia is generally a sandy clay, the surface of which, in the absence of water, is a positive desert ; but wherever it is watered by the numerous inlets and irrigating canals branching from the different rivers, it is rich and productive in the exteeine.' The northern parts produce cotton, sugar, indigo, and dates, which are said to excel those of Tafilah. About the KhAbfir, however, the date-tree almost ceases to bear ; but oranges, grapes, pears, apples, with other fruits and grain, arrive at perfection. The products of the northern part are tobacco, Indian corn, wheat, bar ley, cotton, and gall-nuts. Melons, apricots, figs, 1 cherries, pomegranates, and quinces also, are abun dant, wherever the least care is taken to cultivate them. The climate is subject to the extremities of cold and heat, according to the season. Snow falls occasionally, even in the south. In the summer the average temperature is 104° in the house. In the northern parts the thermometer frequently falls below zero in winter, and the snow continues for some weeks during the coldest part of that season. In the summer, and during the greater part of ' autumn, there is scarcely any rain in Upper Meso potamia; but during the remainder of the latter season, and till the snow is melted in the lower part of the neighbouring range of the Taurus, it falls abundantly' (p. 107).
The prevailing trees are the sycamore, the silver poplar, with the tamarisk and liquorice plants, both of which are everywhere very abundant. Below the Khabur,* wormwood covers the plain. Bustards abound ; and even wild asses are occasionally seen. Jackals are found in large troops ; lions and hymns are not so numerous ; but hares, black and stone coloured partridges, francolins, Bramin, and com mon wild geese, ducks, teal, pelicans, cranes, etc., are abundant. The rivers are full of fish, chiefly barbel and carp, which latter grows to an enormous size in the Euphrates. Truffles and wild capers, peas, spinach, and the carob (ceratonia siliqua), are also found in Mesopotamia.'—Chesney, p. roS.