EGYPT, 
AND SYRIA. 
281 
In that part of the country where I refided are found neither 
lakes, rivers, marfhes, nor any other appearance of water but 
the wells which are dug for domeftic confumption, except 
during the rainy feafon. At that period torrents, of greater or 
lefs dimenfions, interfed: the country in all dire(51:ions. The 
rainy feafon lafts from before the middle of June to the middle 
or end of September. This feafon is called Harif *. 
I have obferved that the rain, which is generally very heavy 
and accompanied with lightning, falls moll frequently from 
3 P. M. till midnight. 
The changes of the wind are not periodical but inftantaneous. 
It is with a foutherly wind that the greateft heat prevails ; and 
with a South-Eaft that the greateft quantity of rain falls. When 
the breeze is from the North or North-weft it is nioft refrefli- 
of hiftory of the progrefs of the {ajhab) early propagators of Mohammedifm, 
and which enumerated, if I miftake not, a tribe under the denomination of 
Fur among their adverfaries, after the taking of Bahnefe in Middle Egypt, 
and their confequent invafion of the more Southern provinces. 
■ iC'': 
* If but a fmall quantity of rain fall, the agrlcultors are reduced to great 
dlftrefs ; and it happened, about feven years before my arrival, that many people 
were obliged to eat the young branches of trees pounded in a mortar. 
o o ing. 
