Cu.vr. VI.] WELLS AT JAFF.XA. 533 



decoration and offerings in the temples. Each is situated 

 in a well-secured enclosure, with one or more wells. 

 From these, night and day, but chiefly during the night, 

 labourers are employed in raising water, by means of 

 vessels (frequently woven of palm-leaves) attaclied to 

 horizontal levers,; something like the sakkias used by the 

 peasants on the Nile for a similar purpose, except that in 

 Jafliia two persons at least are required at each well, one 

 of whom walks back and forward along the lever, whilst 

 the other below directs the bucket in its ascent and 

 empties its contents into a reservoir, whence, by re- 

 moving a clod of earth with the foot, it is admitted into 

 conducting channels, and led to the several beds in suc- 

 cession.^ The value of these wells is extreme in a country 

 where rivers and even the smallest stream are unknown, 

 and where the cultivators are entirely dependent on the 

 rains of the two monsoons. But such has been the in- 

 defatigable industry of the people in providing them, that 

 tliey may be said to have virtually added a third liarvest 

 to the year, by the extent to which they have multiplied 

 the means of irrigation around their principal towns and 

 villages. 



The articles raised by this species of garden cultiva- 

 tion are of infinite variety. Every field is carefully 

 fenced in with pahng formed of the mid-ribs of the 

 palmyra-leaf, or by rows of prickly plants, aloes, cactus, 

 euphorbia, and others ; and each is divided into small 

 beds, each containing a different crop ; but the most fre- 

 quent and valuable crops are the ingredients for the pre- 

 paration of curry ; such as onions and chilies, which are 

 exported to_ aU parts of the coast and carried in large 

 quantities into the interior. Along with these, are tur- 

 meric, ginger, pumpldns, brinjals, gourds, melons, j'ams, 



' Til is feature in the imgation of | '^ with the sole of^mi/ foot hnye I dried 

 the Taniil pavdons lias boon aptly | up the nvers of besieged places," 

 adduced in illustration of the text, | 2 Kimjs, ch. xix. 24. 



M M 3 



