311 
fountains, mosques, baths, khans or inns, and private 
houses. Except the Tora, this is the most; considerable 
branch. 
The sixth arm, called Mrabani, supplies the south- 
ern part of the city, and a part of the great suburb called 
Meidan. 
The seventh arm, Bar an ^ is about half a league long; 
it is the most southerly, and furnishes the remainder of 
Meidan with water. 
I must observe that all these waters are limpid and 
transparent, except when momentarily troubled during 
a great storm. 
After having watered the neighbouring country, each 
branch returns by different points to rejoin the Barrada, 
which empties itself into a lake seven hours journey 
from Damascus. 
This lake which is called Hhotaibe, or Behirat el 
Merdj, may be about seven or eight leagues in circum- 
ference. It has no apparent issue, and hence I am led 
to imagine that there exists a subterraneous outlet, for 
it does not increase in the rainy season, nor does it 
diminish in the dry weather. It preserves the same level 
at the dissolution of the snows, which takes place in 
March and April, at which period the rivers that run 
into it are considerably swollen. Its water is drinkable. 
There are a great many antelopes and wild boars, as 
well as water fowl, to be met with in its neighbour* 
hood. 
Although the water of all the branches of the Barra- 
da is good, the opulent make use of a particular spring, 
produced by the filtering of the branch Tora, the water 
of which is extraordinarily clear, light, and delicate. I 
generally drank this water, although I had a fine foun- 
tain of marble in my apartment, two in the garden. 
