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eus. Its source is not so abundant as the former, but 
the water is excellent, and perhaps the best in all Syria. 
The confluence of the two rivers takes place half a 
league from the source of the Fichee. 
Both rivers, being united under the name of Barrada, 
run to Maksdn, a considerable town two hours journey 
distant from Damascus, where they divide into seven 
branches. I visited this place, and found it one of the 
most romantic that can be imagined; the division of the 
water takes place in a defile among abrupt mountains. 
The third arm, called Barias, runs to the bottom of the 
valley, by the natural bed of the river. The other six 
discharge themselves by cascades of different heights on 
both sides of the Barias. 
The first arm, called Djazzie, the most elevated of 
the whole, and the most northerly, runs to a pretty little 
town called Salakhie, a delightful retreat about half an 
hour's walk from Damascus, of which it is considered 
a suburb; here most of the rich people possess pleasure 
houses. 
The second branch, called Tora, the largest of all, 
waters the whole country between Salakhie and Da- 
mascus. 
The Barias, or third branch, furnishes water to the 
finest part of the city, that is to say, the new suburb, 
where I was lodged. 
The fourth arm, which preserves its name of Barra- 
da, washes the walls to the north of Damascus. It is in 
this water that the dyers wash their silk and cotton. 
They pretend that it prepares these articles to receive 
the dye more readily. 
The fifth arm, called Canavat, furnishes water to the 
principal part of the town by thousands of conduits, 
which distribute it in different quarters to the public 
